Nandalal Bose
Encyclopedia
Nandalal Bose (3 December 1882 – 16 April 1966) was a notable India
n painter
of Bengal school of art
. A pupil of Abanindranath Tagore
, Bose was known for "Indian style" of painting. He became the principal of Kala Bhawan, Shanti Niketan in 1922. He was influenced by the Tagore family
and the murals of Ajanta, his classic works include paintings of scenes from India
n mythologies, women, and village life.
Today, his paintings are considered among India's best modern paintings by many critics..
Along with his favourite students like Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and others, Nandalal Bose took-up the historic task of beautifying/decorating the original manuscript of the Constitution of India
. In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India
, Department of Culture, Govt. of India declared his works among the "nine artists", whose work "not being antiquities, were to be hence forth considered to be 'art treasures' .
s of Ajanta
, already part of a circle of artists and writers who sought to revive classical Indian culture.
To mark the 1930 occasion of Gandhi's arrest for protesting the British tax on salt, Bose created a black on white linocut print of Gandhi walking with a staff. It became the iconic image for the non-violent movement.
He was also famously asked by Jawaharlal Nehru
to sketch the emblems for the Government of India’s awards, including the Bharat Ratna and the Padmashri.
His genius and original style were recognized by famous artists and art critics like Gaganendranath Tagore
, Ananda Coomaraswamy
and O.C.Ganguli. These lovers of art felt that objective criticism was necessary for the development of painting and founded the Indian Society of Oriental Art.
He became principal of the Kala Bhavana (College of Arts) at Tagore's International University Santiniketan
in 1922.
He died on April, the 16th 1966, in Calcutta.
, Ramkinkar Baij
, Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, Pratima Thakur, Jahar Dasgupta
, Sabita Thakur.
'. Nandalal Bose was awarded a prize of Rs. 500 at the first art exhibition organized by it in 1908 CE for his painting Shiva-Sati. In 1956 CE, he became the second artist to be elected Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Art.
Several universities conferred honorary Doctorates on him. Vishvabharati University honored him by conferring on him the title of 'Deshikottama'.
The Academy of Fine Arts in Calcutta honored Nandalal with the Silver Jubilee Medal. The Tagore Birth Centenary Medal was awarded to Nandalal Bose in 1965 CE by the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
of Bengal school of art
Bengal school of art
The Bengal School of Art was a style of art that flourished in India during the British Raj in the early 20th century. It was associated with Indian nationalism, but was also promoted and supported by British arts administrators.-History:...
. A pupil of Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore was the principal artist of the Bengal school and the first major exponent of swadeshi values in Indian art. He was also a noted writer, particularly for children...
, Bose was known for "Indian style" of painting. He became the principal of Kala Bhawan, Shanti Niketan in 1922. He was influenced by the Tagore family
Tagore family
The Tagore family, with over three hundred years of history, has been one of the leading families of Kolkata, and is regarded as a key influence during the Bengal Renaissance...
and the murals of Ajanta, his classic works include paintings of scenes from India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n mythologies, women, and village life.
Today, his paintings are considered among India's best modern paintings by many critics..
Along with his favourite students like Beohar Rammanohar Sinha and others, Nandalal Bose took-up the historic task of beautifying/decorating the original manuscript of the Constitution of India
Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It lays down the framework defining fundamental political principles, establishes the structure, procedures, powers, and duties of government institutions, and sets out fundamental rights, directive principles, and the duties of citizens...
. In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India
Archaeological Survey of India
The Archaeological Survey of India is a department of the Government of India, attached to the Ministry of Culture . The ASI is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of archaeological heritage of the country in accordance with the various acts of the Indian Parliament...
, Department of Culture, Govt. of India declared his works among the "nine artists", whose work "not being antiquities, were to be hence forth considered to be 'art treasures' .
Career
Nandalal Bose as a young artist was deeply influenced by the muralMural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s of Ajanta
Ajanta
The Ajanta Caves in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra, India are 29 rock-cut cave monuments which date from the 2nd century BCE. The caves include paintings and sculptures considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art as well as frescos which are reminiscent of the Sigiriya...
, already part of a circle of artists and writers who sought to revive classical Indian culture.
To mark the 1930 occasion of Gandhi's arrest for protesting the British tax on salt, Bose created a black on white linocut print of Gandhi walking with a staff. It became the iconic image for the non-violent movement.
He was also famously asked by Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru , often referred to with the epithet of Panditji, was an Indian statesman who became the first Prime Minister of independent India and became noted for his “neutralist” policies in foreign affairs. He was also one of the principal leaders of India’s independence movement in the...
to sketch the emblems for the Government of India’s awards, including the Bharat Ratna and the Padmashri.
His genius and original style were recognized by famous artists and art critics like Gaganendranath Tagore
Gaganendranath Tagore
See Tagore for disambiguationGaganendranath Tagore was an Indian painter and cartoonist of the Bengal school. He belongs to the Tagore family and was born at Jorasanko.-Early life:Gaganendranath Tagore was born in Calcutta...
, Ananda Coomaraswamy
Ananda Coomaraswamy
Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy was a Ceylonese philosopher and metaphysician, as well as a pioneering historian and philosopher of Indian art, particularly art history and symbolism, and an early interpreter of Indian culture to the West...
and O.C.Ganguli. These lovers of art felt that objective criticism was necessary for the development of painting and founded the Indian Society of Oriental Art.
He became principal of the Kala Bhavana (College of Arts) at Tagore's International University Santiniketan
Santiniketan
Santiniketan is a small town near Bolpur in the Birbhum district of West Bengal, India, approximately 180 kilometres north of Kolkata . It was made famous by Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, whose vision became what is now a university town that attracts thousands of visitors each year...
in 1922.
He died on April, the 16th 1966, in Calcutta.
Students
Some of his illustrious students were Benode Behari MukherjeeBenode Behari Mukherjee
Binod Behari Mukherjee was an Indian artist from West Bengal state. Mukherjee was one of the pioneers of Indian modern art, as a painter and as a celebrated muralist...
, Ramkinkar Baij
Ramkinkar Baij
Ramkinkar Baij was an Indian Santhal sculptor, known as the Pioneer of Modern Indian Sculpture. He was one of the first Indian Adivasi artists to understand the language of modern Western art and use it in his sculptures...
, Beohar Rammanohar Sinha, Pratima Thakur, Jahar Dasgupta
Jahar Dasgupta
Jahar Dasgupta, is senior contemporary painter from India.-Biography:Jahar Dasgupta was born in Jamshedpur in the year 1942. He was admitted to Kalabhavan, Santiniketan in 1959 and took his primary lessons under legendary mentors like Nand Lal Bose, Ramkinkar Baiz and Benode Behari Mukherjee...
, Sabita Thakur.
Honours and awards
In 1954 , Nandalal Bose was conferred-upon the title award of 'Padma VibhushanPadma Vibhushan
The Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian award in the Republic of India. It consists of a medal and a citation and is awarded by the President of India. It was established on 2 January 1954. It ranks behind the Bharat Ratna and comes before the Padma Bhushan...
'. Nandalal Bose was awarded a prize of Rs. 500 at the first art exhibition organized by it in 1908 CE for his painting Shiva-Sati. In 1956 CE, he became the second artist to be elected Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Art.
Several universities conferred honorary Doctorates on him. Vishvabharati University honored him by conferring on him the title of 'Deshikottama'.
The Academy of Fine Arts in Calcutta honored Nandalal with the Silver Jubilee Medal. The Tagore Birth Centenary Medal was awarded to Nandalal Bose in 1965 CE by the Asiatic Society of Bengal.
Further reading
- Nandalal Bose and Indian painting, by Ramyansu Sekhar Das. Tower Publishers, 1958.
- Nandalal Bose: a collection of essays : centenary volume. Lalit Kala AkademiLalit Kala AkademiThe Lalit Kala Akademi or National Academy of Art is India's National Academy of Arts. It was an autonomous organization, established at New Delhi in 1954 by Government of India to promote and propagate understanding of Indian art, both within and outside the country...
, 1983. - Nandalal Bose, the doyen of Indian art. (National biography), by Dinkar Kowshik. National Book TrustNational Book TrustNational Book Trust, is an Indian publishing house, founded in 1957 as an autonomous body under the Ministry of Education within the Government of India....
, India, 1985.