Art, in its various forms, has enmeshed itself into the fabric of human society throughout the ages. Humans have always derived pleasure either from creating art or experiencing and appreciating it. Art plays a big role in how we see and make sense of the world and the people around us. A piece of art cuts across all divides and appeals to a person, irrespective of his nationality, ethnicity or religion. It speaks a universal language.
When we think of masterpieces, specifically in the painting scenario, the names which come to our mind are the likes of ‘Mona Lisa’, ‘The last supper, ‘The Starry night’ etc. In a world where we are overwhelmed with a plethora of artwork, these pieces have cut across the realms of time and culture, carving their niche in the history of art. Indian artists too have produced some of the finest pieces of paintings which have been lauded in international circles. Apart from their apparent beauty,
each piece, with its unique brush strokes and colors, holds within them a unique story. Here we rediscover some Indian masterpieces that created ripples in the world of art.
‘Self-portrait’ by Amrita Sher-Gil
Amrita Sher-Gil is arguably one of the most famous women painters from India and is responsible in part for introducing western modernism to India. She is often referred to as Frida Kahlo of India, for the way in which she effortlessly combines traditional and western forms of painting, resulting in stunning and aesthetic creations. She is widely acclaimed for her series of hauntingly beautiful self-portraits. The most famous among these is an untitled self-portrait made by the artist in 1931. It is the first piece by the artist to be offered at Christie’s, London. The painting depicts the artist at age 18 and speaks volumes of her considerable talents with the use of color and brush strokes. The lady in the portrait looks directly at the viewer, with the hint of a smile. The potency of her gaze draws the viewer deeper inside, to reveal layers of melancholy within those enigmatic eyes.
Amrita Sher-Gil’s paintings, continue to be among the most expensive paintings by an Indian woman painter and finds a place in the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi.
Source: awarewomenartists
‘Bharat Mata’ by Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore is the founder of the Bengal school of art and is often referred to as the father of the modern Indian art. He was the nephew of Rabindranath Tagore and one of the most famous artists in India. He sought to include Indian elements in his art form, countering the English influences which eclipsed the Indian art scene during that time.
His iconic painting ‘Bharat mata’ is arguably the most famous painting in India and its muse became the face of the Swadeshi movement in the country. The watercolor painting depicts a saffron clad lady, much like a sadhvi (female ascetic), olding a sheaf of paddy, a rosary, books and a piece of clothing. It symbolizes Mother India blessing its citizens with shiksha -education, ann -food, vastra -clothes and deeksha -initiation. This was the artist’s visualization of Bharat mata or Mother India, as she waited for liberation from the British rule. This painting touched a chord with the masses and it soon became a symbol of national liberation, which makes this painting one of the most historically important pieces of art, of its times.
Source: Wikipedia
‘Bapuji’ by Nandalal Bose
Nandalal Bose is touted to be one of the trailblazers of modern Indian art. He was the disciple of the legendary Abanindranath Tagore. Nandalal Bose was known for his Indian style of paintings and his work is regarded by many art critics as some of the best works in modern Indian art. He was an artist at Shanti Niketan during Gandhiji’s lifetime. This painting is a linocut portrait titled ‘Bapuji’ and depicts a stalwart and inspirational image of Mahatma Gandhi. It is said to be painted after Gandhiji fondly known as Bapuji, was arrested after his historic nonviolent resistance, the Dandi march, to oppose the British tax on salt. This powerful painting is on permanent display at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi.
Source: National Galley Modern Art India
‘Horses’ by M.F. Husain
Maqbool Fida Husain is one of the most prominent and prolific painters on the Indian subcontinent. His works speak of sheer brilliance and ingenious use of skill and imagination. His intrepid and eye-catching use of colors and strokes in a modified Cubist style , earned him the title of ‘Picasso of India’. With distinct and pronounced strokes, the maestro has captured the agility and power of the magnificent horses, as they break into a full gallop. ‘Horses’ is arguably one of his most famous works and it was auctioned at Christie’s for a whopping figure of INR one crore.
Source: Indian Art Ideas
‘ Shakuntala’ by Raja Ravi Varma
Raja Ravi Varma is one of the most famous painters to have emerged from the Indian subcontinent. He successfully merged European academic art with Indian sensibilities to produce exquisite pieces of painting, that resonated with even the common man. His affordable lithographs, often depicting scenes from the epics or Hindu deities made fine art accessible to the public and brought him widespread acclaim.
In this painting, which is an oil on canvas, the heroine Shakuntala, of the magnum opus ‘Abhijnana Shakuntalam’ by Kalidasa, pretends to remove a thorn from her foot while stealing shy glances at King Dushyantha. This simple body language in the hands of the brilliant artist portrayed with brilliant brush strokes and vivid colors, manages to emote the heroine’s feelings beautifully to the viewer and the entire scene of the painting resembles a frozen tableau from a movie or play.
Source: Myddoa
‘Three Pujarins’ by Jamini Roy
Jamini Roy who was a disciple of the eminent artist Abanindranath Tagore was one of the early modernists in the Indian art scene. Although trained in the Western model of art, he chose to focus on the Indian aspects in his paintings. Most of his beautifully executed artwork has that distilled essence of Indianness. In this very famous painting of his, he is said to be inspired by the traditional folk art of Bengal. The painting, resplendent with vibrant hues, depicts three almond eyed pujarins or priestesses, in a worshipping position. The indigo color of the Bengali style sari is said to be a subtle nod to the Indigo movement against the British government.
Source: Bistrozdravo
Author: Anupama Vijayakumar
