Abanindranath Tagore
Context
- Celebrations began to mark 150 years of iconic artist Abanindranath Tagore.
Contributions
- Principal artist and creator of the "Indian Society of Oriental Art"
- First major exponent of Swadeshi values in Indian art.
- Founder of Bengal School of Art, which led to the development of modern Indian painting.
- Sought to modernise Mughal and Rajput styles to counter the influence of Western models of art.
- Abanindranath looked to ancient murals and medieval Indian miniatures for inspiration both for subject matter as well as indigenous material such as temper.
- He moved away from oil painting and subjects that were popular with British.
- Advocated in favour of a nationalistic Indian art derived from Indian art history, drawing inspiration from the Ajanta Caves.
- Nandalal Bose who illustrated the Constitution was Tagore’s student.
- Integrated Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions in later works into his style.
- Books: Rajkahini, Budo Angla, Nalak, and Khirer Putul.
- Notable Paintings: Ganesh Janani, Bharat Mata, The Victory of Buddha, Asoka's Queen etc
The Bengal School of Art was an art movement and a style of Indian painting that originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan, and flourished throughout the Indian subcontinent, during the British Raj in the early 20th century. Also known as 'Indian style of painting' in its early days, it was associated with Indian nationalism (Swadeshi Movement) and led by Abanindranath Tagore. It was also promoted and supported by British arts administrators like E. B. Havell, the principal of the Government College of Art, Kolkata. Eventually it led to the development of the modern Indian painting.
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