Modern Indian Painting

The emergence of the modern Indian art movement in the late 19th century Kolkata marked a significant shift from the fading traditional painting practices, with British influence giving rise to new artistic schools. While early artists like Raja Ravi Varma embraced Western techniques.

Modern Indian Painting will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-1 Art and Culture.

Table of Content

• Modern Indian Paintings
• Company Paintings (Kampani Kalam)
• Bazaar Paintings
• Raja Ravi Varma (1848–1906)
• Bengal School of Art
• Cubic Style of Painting
• Progressive Artists Group
• Frequently Asked Questions

Modern Indian Paintings

• The emergence of the modern Indian art movement in Indian painting is traced back to Calcutta during the late nineteenth century.
• In Bengal, the traditional painting practices had faded away, and new art schools were established under British influence.
• Initially, artists like Raja Ravi Varma embraced Western techniques such as oil painting and easel painting.
  • However, a counter-reaction to Western influence gave rise to the Bengal School of Art, which celebrated India’s rich cultural heritage and emphasized primitivism.
• Following the Bengal school, the Santiniketan school led by Rabindranath Tagore sought inspiration from the serene life of rural folk.
• Although it had a significant impact across the country initially, the school’s importance declined by the 1940s and is now virtually nonexistent.

Company Paintings (Kampani Kalam)

• Company Paintings is a hybrid style of painting emerged in India that combined elements of Rajput, Mughal, and other Indian styles with European elements.
• These paintings emerged during the colonial period.
• These artworks were created by Indian painters employed by British Company officers.
• Combining their Indian training with European tastes, these paintings featured watercolour techniques, linear perspective, and shading.
• Origin: Kolkata, Delhi, Patna, Varanasi, Chennai, and Thanjavur.
• Notable patrons: Mary Impey and Marquess Wellesley
• Renowned painters: Mazhar Ali Khan and Ghulam Ali Khan.
• The paintings lasted well into the 20th century.

Bazaar Paintings

• The influence of European encounters in India had an impact on this artistic style.
• Unlike Company paintings, which blended European techniques and themes with Indian elements, the Bazaar school primarily drew inspiration from Roman and Greek art.
• Artists were tasked with reproducing Greek and Roman statues, rather than incorporating Indian influences.
• This school thrived in the Bengal and Bihar regions.
• Alongside the Greco-Roman heritage, their paintings depicted everyday bazaars against European backdrops.
• One popular genre featured Indian courtesans dancing in front of British officials.
• Religious themes were also explored; however, portrayals of Indian Gods and Goddesses with multiple axes and elephant faces, such as Lord Ganesha, deviated from the European concept of the natural human form and were therefore restricted.

Raja Ravi Varma Paintings (1848–1906)

• Raja Ravi Verma, a celebrated painter in India, holds a prominent place among the country’s artistic luminaries.
• Often referred to as the pioneer of modern painting, his distinctive style earned him this distinction.
• The appellation “modern” reflects the substantial influence of Western techniques and themes within his artwork.
• Notably, Ravi Verma skillfully amalgamated elements from South Indian painting traditions with Western approaches to colour and style.
• Hailing from the state of Kerala, he is revered as the “Father of Modern Indian Art.”
• His renowned masterpieces: Ladies in the Moonlight, Shakuntala, Damayanti and Swan, among others.
• His artistic prowess gained nationwide acclaim, particularly through his paintings inspired by the epic Ramayana, including the notable piece entitled “Ravana Kidnapping Sita and Killing Jatayu.”
• The impact of his art extends beyond the canvas, as evidenced by the film titled “Rang Rasiya,” which pays homage to his life and work.

Bengal School of Art

• The Bengal school of painting emerged as a distinctive reaction to prevailing artistic styles. Notably, this school adopts a simplistic colour palette, setting it apart.
• The inception of the Bengal school can be attributed to the works of Abanindranath Tagore in the early 20th century.
• Other renowned painters: Nandalal Bose, Rabindranath Tagore, Asit Kumar Haldar, Manishi Dey, Mukul Dey, Sunayani Devi, and more.

Abanindranath Tagore

• His revolutionary Arabian Night series gained global recognition by breaking away from established Indian painting traditions and introducing novel elements.
• Abanindranath Tagore endeavoured to infuse Swadeshi values into Indian art, aiming to diminish the influence of Western materialistic styles on artists.
• His renowned artwork includes Bharat Mata and various Mughal-themed paintings.

Nandalal Bose

• He was a notable artist associated with the Bengal school.
• His contributions played a pivotal role in the advancement of Modern Indian Art.
• Bose’s affiliation with Santiniketan further fueled artistic progress.
• His iconic white-on-black sketch depicting Gandhi during the Dandi March in the 1930s resonated deeply with the masses.
• Moreover, Bose was entrusted with the significant responsibility of illuminating the original document of the Constitution of India.

Rabindranath Tagore

• He is a highly esteemed painter of the Bengal school, employed dominant black lines to accentuate the subject’s prominence in his distinctive artworks.
• Notably, Tagore preferred smaller canvas sizes.
• Some art historians argue that his paintings can be viewed in connection to his writings.

Cubic Style of Painting

• The art movement known as Cubism drew inspiration from the European Cubist movement, where objects were deconstructed, analyzed, and reassembled.
• Artists applied this approach to their canvases, employing abstract forms to portray this process.
• They aimed to achieve a harmonious fusion of line and colour.

M.F. Hussain

• He is a highly acclaimed artist in India.
• He gained immense popularity as a Cubist painter.
• Within his abstract-themed paintings, he frequently employed the motif of a horse, which excellently captured the essence of fluid motion.

Progressive Artists Group

• Following India’s independence in 1947, a distinct group of painters emerged, captivating the art world with their daring and progressive themes.
• They skillfully blended these themes with softer and more abstract elements, showcasing a unique style.
• While lacking uniformity among themselves, they drew inspiration from European Modernism.
• Six pioneering artists of the group: F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza, M.F. Hussain, K.H. Ara, H.A. Gade, and S.K. Bakre.

Conclusion

A counteraction to western technique led to the Bengal school, which celebrated India’s cultural heritage through a revival of primitivism. This movement later gave way to the Santiniketan school, championed by Rabindranath Tagore, emphasizing the charm of rural life. Despite its initial nationwide impact, the school’s significance waned by the 1940s, rendering it virtually obsolete today.

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