Francis Newton Souza

Francis Newton Souza (1924-2002) was a famous Indian painter, born in Goa. He was the first Indian artist to receive recognition in the west. He attended Sir J.J. School of Art but due to his involvement in the Quit India ..

Contemporary Indian Paintings Notes for UPSC Examinations

In 1867, EB Havel was appointed the Principal of the Art College at Calcutta. He, as we discussed above, gave greater importance to the art traditions of this country, instead of those of Europe. However, he himself was not able ..

Ramkinkar Baij

Ramkinker Baij (1906-1980), was a powerful modern painter and sculptor, best known for his magnum opus “Santhal Family” sculpture. Born in the Bankura District of West Bengal, Baij was a son of a village masseuse and barber. He came to ..

Jamini Roy

Jamini Roy was born in 1887 Beliatore, Bankura District (Bengal) .He was one of the most famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore. He studied at the Government School of Art in Calcutta. He received his Diploma in Fine Art in 1908. ..

Asit Kumar Haldar

AK Haldar (1890–1964) was an relative and one of the lieutenants of Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. His father as well as grand father was painter. Haldar became the first Indian to be appointed as the principal of a Government Art ..

Gaganendranath Tagore

Gaganendranath Tagore was a great-grandson of Dwarkanath Tagore, a nephew of Rabindranath Tagore and elder brother of Abinandranath Tagore. Like other Tagores, he was also involved in painting, theatre, reading and photography. But he is best known as a cartoonist ..

Nandalal Bose

Nandalal Bose (1882 – 1966) was a disciple of Abanindranath Tagore. He became the principal of Kala Bhavan, Shanti Niketan in 1922. His paintings show the scenes from Indian mythologies, women, and village life. Here are some notable trivia on ..

Contribution of Japanese artists in the development of Neo-Bengal School

In 1901-02, Josephine MacLeod, an American pupil of Swami Vivekananda had invited Japanese arts stalwart Kakuzo Okakura to India. Kakuzo Okakura wished to invite Swami Vivekananda, who by that time had become world famous, to Japan. However, Swami Vivekakanda passed ..

Abanindranath Tagore

Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951) was a nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. He was born at Jorasanko and was educated at the Sanskrit College, Calcutta. He learnt painting privately under English and Italian instructors. He led the revivalist movement in Bengal in the ..

EB Havell

The art traditions of India witnessed a steady decline in the 19th century, and Bengal was not too isolated to the deterioration. What could survive during those times were only the Kalighat folk paintings. In 1854, the Calcutta school of ..