The Modern Indian Art

Introduction to Modernism in India

The introduction of modernism in Indian art marks a significant transition from traditional forms to new expressions influenced by both indigenous and Western ideas. During British colonial rule, fine arts were largely seen as a European domain. The British colonial administration believed that Indians lacked the necessary training and sensibility to create or appreciate fine arts. Consequently, by the mid to late nineteenth century, art schools were established in major cities such as Lahore, Calcutta (now Kolkata), Bombay (now Mumbai), and Madras (now Chennai). These schools primarily promoted traditional Indian crafts and academic naturalist art that reflected Victorian tastes. Even the Indian crafts supported were those aligned with European tastes and market demands. Against this colonial bias, nationalist art emerged as a form of cultural resistance. The Bengal School of Art, nurtured by Abanindranath Tagore and E. B. Havell, became a prime example of this nationalist art movement. Furthering this vision, India's first nationalist art school, Kala Bhavana, was established in 1919 as part of Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, conceptualized by poet Rabindranath Tagore. Kala Bhavana carried forward the ideals of the Bengal School but also charted its own path in creating art meaningful to Indians. During this period, the world was undergoing intense political turmoil due to World War I. Modern European art influenced Indian artists through art magazines and exhibitions such as the Bauhaus exhibition that traveled to Calcutta. Artists from the Tagore family, including Gaganendranath and Rabindranath Tagore, were aware of international trends like Cubism and Expressionism, which rejected academic realism and experimented with abstraction. They believed art need not merely copy the world but could create its own world through forms, lines, and color patches. For example, a landscape or portrait could be considered abstract if it emphasized design elements rather than realistic depiction. Gaganendranath Tagore adopted Cubism to develop a unique style characterized by vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines, differing from the geometric facets used by Pablo Picasso, the inventor of Cubism. Rabindranath Tagore, who turned to visual art later in life, developed a calligraphic style from doodles and crossed-out words, creating human faces and landscapes that floated within his poems. His palette was limited to black, yellow ochre, reds, and browns, and his visual world was a departure from the delicate Bengal School style inspired by Mughal and Pahari miniatures and Ajanta frescoes. Nandalal Bose joined Kala Bhavana in 1921-22 and, though trained under Abanindranath Tagore, encouraged exploration of new artistic expressions among students and teachers. His students, Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinker Baij, developed unique styles capturing their environment, including flora, fauna, and local tribal communities like the Santhals. They also drew inspiration from literary sources, focusing on themes beyond traditional epics.

• British colonial rule viewed fine arts as European and doubted Indian artistic sensibility.
• Art schools in major cities promoted Victorian tastes and crafts aligned with European markets.
• Nationalist art emerged as resistance, exemplified by the Bengal School and Kala Bhavana.
• Modern European art movements like Cubism and Expressionism influenced Indian artists.
• Gaganendranath and Rabindranath Tagore experimented with abstraction and unique styles.
• Kala Bhavana fostered exploration beyond traditional art, focusing on Indian themes and environment.
• 📌 Modernism: An art movement emphasizing new forms and expressions, often breaking from tradition.
• 📌 Bengal School of Art: A nationalist art movement led by Abanindranath Tagore promoting Indian themes.
• 📌 Kala Bhavana: India's first nationalist art school established in Shantiniketan by Rabindranath Tagore.

AN INTRODUCTION TO INDIAN ART — PART II

This section elaborates on the evolution of Indian modern art through the works of artists linked to the Tagore family and Shantiniketan. Rabindranath Tagore, though primarily a poet, turned to visual art late in life, creating a unique calligraphic style from doodles and crossed-out words that transformed into human faces and landscapes. His limited palette and abstract approach marked a clear departure from the Bengal School's delicate style inspired by Mughal, Pahari miniatures, and Ajanta frescoes. Gaganendranath Tagore embraced Cubism but developed his own style distinct from Picasso's geometric facets. His paintings of mysterious halls and rooms used vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines to create abstract spaces. Nandalal Bose, joining Kala Bhavana in 1921-22, encouraged his students to explore new artistic avenues. His students Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinker Baij developed unique styles that captured their immediate environment, including flora, fauna, and the Santhal tribal community living near Shantiniketan. Their art often reflected rural life and literary themes rather than traditional epic narratives. Benode Behari Mukherjee created the mural 'The Lives of Medieval Saints' in Hindi Bhavana, Shantiniketan, depicting the lives and humane teachings of saints like Tulsi Das and Kabir. Ramkinker Baij celebrated nature and everyday rural experiences in his sculptures and paintings. His 'Santhal Family' sculpture, made from modern materials like cement mixed with pebbles and metal armature, depicted a Santhal family setting out for work and was a pioneering example of open-air modernist sculpture. Jamini Roy, another important figure, rejected academic training and found inspiration in Bengal's rural folk art. He used simple, pure colors made from vegetables and minerals, and his style was distinct from both academic naturalism and the Bengal School. His works were easily reproducible, reflecting artisanal village practices, but he uniquely signed his paintings, marking personal authorship.

• Rabindranath Tagore developed a unique calligraphic visual style late in life.
• Gaganendranath Tagore adapted Cubism with his own abstract style.
• Nandalal Bose encouraged exploration beyond nationalism in art.
• Benode Behari Mukherjee and Ramkinker Baij focused on rural life and tribal communities.
• Benode Behari Mukherjee’s mural depicted medieval saints emphasizing humane teachings.
• Ramkinker Baij’s 'Santhal Family' was a pioneering modernist open-air sculpture.
• Jamini Roy blended folk art with modernism, using natural pigments and personal signatures.
• 📌 Calligraphic style: Artistic expression using stylized handwriting or doodles.
• 📌 Mural: Large painting applied directly on walls or ceilings.
• 📌 Open-air sculpture: Sculpture displayed outdoors, accessible to the public.