origin and development of bengal school
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The Bengal School of Art commonly referred as Bengal School,[1] was an art movement and a style of Indian painting that originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan, and flourished throughout the Indian subcontinent, during the British Raj in the early 20th century. Also known as 'Indian style of painting' in its early days, it was associated with Indian nationalism (swadeshi) and led by Abanindranath Tagore (1871-1951), but was also promoted and supported by British arts administrators like E. B. Havell, the principal of the Government College of Art, Kolkata from 1896; eventually it led to the development of the modern Indian painting.[1][2][3]
The Bengal school arose as an avant garde and nationalist movement reacting against the academic art styles previously promoted in India, both by Indian artists such as Raja Ravi Varma and in British art schools. Following the influence of Indian spiritual ideas in the West, the British art teacher Ernest Binfield Havell attempted to reform the teaching methods at the Calcutta School of Art by encouraging students to imitate Mughal miniatures.[4][5] This caused controversy, leading to a strike by students and complaints from the local press, including from nationalists who considered it to be a retrogressive move. Havell was supported by the artist Abanindranath Tagore, a nephew of the poet Rabindranath Tagore. Tagore painted a number of works influenced by Mughal art, a style that he and Havell believed to be expressive of India's distinct spiritual qualities, as opposed to the "materialism" of the West. Tagore's best-known painting, Bharat Mata (Mother India), depicted a young woman, portrayed with four arms in the manner of Hindu deities, holding objects symbolic of India's national aspirations. Tagore later attempted to develop links with Japanese artists as part of an aspiration to construct a pan-Asianist model of art. Through the paintings of 'Bharat Mata', Abanindranath established the pattern of patriotism. Painters and artists of Bengal school were Nandalal Bose, M.A.R Chughtai, Sunayani Devi (sister of Abanindranath Tagore), Manishi Dey, Mukul Dey, Kalipada Ghoshal, Asit Kumar Haldar, Sudhir Khastgir, Kshitindranath Majumdar, Sughra Rababi, .[1]
The Bengal school's influence in India declined with the spread of modernist ideas in the 1920s. As of 2012, there has been a surge in interest in the Bengal school of art among scholars and connoisseurs.[6].
Bimal Sil' was a contemporary of Abanindernath Tagore. He painted in water colours. His paintings are found in private collections only.
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Origin , Development and main Feature of Bengal School Painting – -Bengal School of Painting was done in the mid of 19th century
Ø Under the influence of Principle E.B Havell and Abanindranath , Indian artist started given respect to the traditional painting of Indian and stopped the blind copy of lifeless western realism
Ø This led to the birth of Bengal School .
Ø Bengal school is molre a style than our regional development .
Ø It is the first school the represent important art movement in modern India .
Ø E.B. Havell was introduced to Abanindranath and Appointed Abanindranath as vice principal of the art school . Painting was established with his help and efforts of boyh . It was based fully on Indian traditions which becomes Bengal School of Art . Within 10 years a new school of art.
Ø Abanindranath learnt water color technique from Japanese artist and synthesized it with European water color technique to create a novel technique which was called as ‘water ’ technique . This new method of tempera mixed with wash became the hallmark of Bengal School and Marked the departure from the traditional tempera method.
Ø Under joint effort and patronage from Rabindranath, Dr. A.K. Commanswamy , Gagendranath, sister Nivedita and many other Art lovers gave birth to the “ Society Of Orient Art” in 1907 to encourage traditional Indian Art of Painting.
Ø In 1908 an exhibition of painting of famous artists were displayed.
Ø Lady Haringham on her visit to India got the painting of Ajanta and bagh caves copied by Nand Lal Bose .Same was also published in “ Indian Society London”
Ø Several exhibitions of Indian painting were organized in foreign countries which brought name and fame for Indian Painting.