The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) in New Delhi recently organized a virtual tour titled “The Great Maestro – Abanindranath Tagore” on the 7th of August, 2020. The event was held in commemoration of the 150th birth anniversary of Abanindranath Tagore.
Abanindranath Tagore: A Renowned Figure
Born into the prominent Tagore family of Jorasanko, Kolkata in 1871, Abanindranath Tagore possessed rich cultural heritage from the start as he was the nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. Initially, during his youth, his artistic style was greatly influenced by the European and academic styles he learned from European artists. However, this changed drastically towards the last decade of the 19th century.
Artistic Transformation and Influences
Abanindranath developed an aversion for the corporeality of European naturalism, which represented objects closer to the way they are seen, being inspired by principles of natural science. Instead, he found deep inspiration in Mughal miniatures and the aesthetics of Japanese philosopher, Okakura Kakuzo, who visited Kolkata in 1902. He gradually shifted towards painting images with historical or literary allusions.
Modern Indian Art: Nationalism in Focus
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, there was a significant intertwining of art with nationalism. Many artists, such as Raja Ravi Varma, tried to create a style that was distinctly modern yet quintessentially Indian. Varma excelled in the Western art of oil painting and realistic life study, choosing themes from Indian mythology. However, Abanindranath Tagore and a new group of nationalist artists in Bengal reoriented this approach.
Reviving Indian Art Tradition: The Bengal School of Painting
The Bengal School of Painting, also known as the Renaissance or Revivalist School, represented the first modern movement of Indian Art. With Abanindranath Tagore playing a leading role, and E.B Havell as the theoretician, it aimed to rediscover and revive the glory of traditional Indian art forms. They consciously strived to produce artwork that was truly Indian and deeply tied to the nation’s cultural roots.
Inspiration and Techniques: Moving Away from Western Norms
The Bengal School of Painting sought inspiration from medieval traditions of Indian miniature painting and ancient mural painting techniques found in the Ajanta caves. Interestingly, they also incorporated the ‘wash technique’ from visiting Japanese artists, who came to India with the aim of developing an Asian Art movement.
The Legacy: Abanindranath’s Pupils
Many significant figures in the Indian art circle have been students of Abanindranath, including Nandalal Bose and Kshitindranath Majumdar.
Remembering the Master: Popular Works
Abanindranath’s famous artworks include ‘Bharat Mata’, ‘My Mother’, ‘Journey’s End’. He also penned notable books like ‘Rajkahini’ and ‘Nalak’. His contributions to the art world remained significant till his death on December 5, 1951.
About NGMA: Preserving Modern Art
Established in 1954, at the Jaipur House, New Delhi, the NGMA operates under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. It is dedicated to acquiring and preserving works of modern art from the 1850s onwards, continuing to celebrate and cherish the contributions of great artists like Abanindranath Tagore.