Sukumar Bose
Encyclopedia
Sukumar Bose (May 12, 1912 - Nov 10, 1986) was a notable Indian artist based in Delhi who was trained in the tradition of the Bengal School under Asit Kumar Haldar
.
Bose studied art and sculpture under Asit Kumar Haldar at the Lucknow Art College. His most recognised pieces of work are “Nativity”, “Dawn of the British Raj - Sir Thomas Row in the Court of Emperor Jahangir” and his murals at Rashtraprati Bhavan (the presidential building in New Delhi).
In 1945, Bose was appointed Curator of Paintings of the Government of India. In this role, Bose worked primarily in Viceroy House, which was later renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan
. Bose worked in this role until his retirement in 1970.
Mainly utilising motifs of Indian mythology
, landscapes, women and village life, Bose’s artwork and murals adorn the frescoes, corridors and various rooms at Rashtrapati Bhavan as well as private collections around the world.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian art, Bose was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri
Award in 1970.
, Uttar Pradesh, India, to Sanat Kumar Bose and Bina Pani Bose. Bipin Behari Bose, Bose’s paternal grandfather, was a successful lawyer of the Lucknow Bar. The Boses, with affiliations to the Brahmo Samaj
movement, were an influential upper-middle class Bengali family in Lucknow
where they were actively involved in promoting Bengal art and culture. In 1936, Sukumar Bose married Bela Chaudhury.
Asit Kumar Haldar became a good friend of the family’s after he arrived in Lucknow to head the Government Art College. Asit Kumar Haldar was closely related to the writer and poet Rabindranath Tagore
(Haldar was Tagore’s elder sister’s grandson). Haldar was educated in Shantiniketan under the direct guidance of Rabindranath Tagore
.
When Bose’s interests turned towards fine arts he was enrolled to the Government Art College and studied art under the personal supervision of Haldar.
Throughout his artistic career, Bose was actively involved in the promotion of Indian art and culture. He was a pioneer member of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society
(AIFACS), the precursor to what is today’s state-run Lalit Kala Academy. As an active member of the AIFACS, he was involved in the publication of Roopa Lekha, a bi-annual art journal.
Bose’s society memberships included the following:
In 1950, Bose was commissioned by the Venerable Pope Pius XII, head of the Roman Catholic Church at the time, to produce a piece in the Indian style on a Christian subject. This piece, “The Nativity – The Birth of Christ” is housed at The Vatican
. - (The Age)
Between 1952 and 1960, Bose conducted numerous solo exhibitions in countries including the United Kingdom
, the United States of America, Australia
and the former USSR, as well as in cities across India
.
When he retired in 1972, Bose was appointed honorary art advisor to the then President Shri V.V. Giri. Bose held this position until 1974.
.
Bose also ventured into modern art by blending old and new techniques. However, Bose always adhered to classical principles of realism. As a result of his art education, Bose was more of a traditionalist, preferring realism over the more abstract styles of interpretation. Described by The Bombay Chronicle as a “versatile artist”, Bose was a firm believer in the learning of technique. To him, anyone who argued otherwise was merely incapable of withstanding “a steady and strenuous physical and intellectual hardship.” [1]
Bose worked with a variety of subjects such as Indian mythology
motifs, landscapes, animals and village women. Bose’s artistic treatment and style of expression of these motifs and subjects can be said to have set the tone for the future trend and direction of Indian art.
Each of Bose’s works was a painstaking study of form, rhythm and natural beauty. For the human form, Bose experimented from time to time painting in the styles of Meerabai and Ajanta
.
Asit Kumar Haldar
Asit Kumar Haldar was an Indian painter and an assistant of Rabindranath Tagore at Shantiniketan. He was one of the major artists of the Bengal renaissance.-Early life:...
.
Bose studied art and sculpture under Asit Kumar Haldar at the Lucknow Art College. His most recognised pieces of work are “Nativity”, “Dawn of the British Raj - Sir Thomas Row in the Court of Emperor Jahangir” and his murals at Rashtraprati Bhavan (the presidential building in New Delhi).
In 1945, Bose was appointed Curator of Paintings of the Government of India. In this role, Bose worked primarily in Viceroy House, which was later renamed Rashtrapati Bhavan
Rashtrapati Bhavan
The Rashtrapati Bhavan or The Official Residence of the Head of the State is the official residence of the President of India, located at Raisina hill in New Delhi, India. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India...
. Bose worked in this role until his retirement in 1970.
Mainly utilising motifs of Indian mythology
Indian mythology
Indian mythology may refer to:*Indian epic poetry*Vedic mythology*Hindu mythology*Buddhist mythology*Native American mythology...
, landscapes, women and village life, Bose’s artwork and murals adorn the frescoes, corridors and various rooms at Rashtrapati Bhavan as well as private collections around the world.
In recognition of his contribution to Indian art, Bose was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri
Padma Shri
Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan...
Award in 1970.
Early life
Sukumar Bose was born on 12 May 1912 in LucknowLucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
, Uttar Pradesh, India, to Sanat Kumar Bose and Bina Pani Bose. Bipin Behari Bose, Bose’s paternal grandfather, was a successful lawyer of the Lucknow Bar. The Boses, with affiliations to the Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj
Brahmo Samaj is the societal component of the Brahmo religion which is mainly practiced today as the Adi Dharm after its eclipse in Bengal consequent to the exit of the Tattwabodini Sabha from its ranks in 1859. It was one of the most influential religious movements responsible for the making of...
movement, were an influential upper-middle class Bengali family in Lucknow
Lucknow
Lucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
where they were actively involved in promoting Bengal art and culture. In 1936, Sukumar Bose married Bela Chaudhury.
Asit Kumar Haldar became a good friend of the family’s after he arrived in Lucknow to head the Government Art College. Asit Kumar Haldar was closely related to the writer and poet Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
(Haldar was Tagore’s elder sister’s grandson). Haldar was educated in Shantiniketan under the direct guidance of Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
.
When Bose’s interests turned towards fine arts he was enrolled to the Government Art College and studied art under the personal supervision of Haldar.
Career
In 1932 aged 20, Sukumar Bose was appointed art teacher at the Modern School Delhi. Bose taught at the school until 1947. Bose, along with his predecessors including Sarada Ukil, has been credited for introducing the Bengal School art tradition and style to North India. (Geta Kapoor).Throughout his artistic career, Bose was actively involved in the promotion of Indian art and culture. He was a pioneer member of the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society
All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society
The All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society is an independent arts organisation in India, founded in Delhi in 1928. In the decade after Indian independence, many of its functions were transferred to three national academies: Lalit Kala Akademi, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Sahitya Akademi for the...
(AIFACS), the precursor to what is today’s state-run Lalit Kala Academy. As an active member of the AIFACS, he was involved in the publication of Roopa Lekha, a bi-annual art journal.
Bose’s society memberships included the following:
- The Governing Council, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society
- Army Head Quarters Dramatic Society, New Delhi
- Board of Technical Education, Delhi
In 1950, Bose was commissioned by the Venerable Pope Pius XII, head of the Roman Catholic Church at the time, to produce a piece in the Indian style on a Christian subject. This piece, “The Nativity – The Birth of Christ” is housed at The Vatican
Vatican Museums
The Vatican Museums , in Viale Vaticano in Rome, inside the Vatican City, are among the greatest museums in the world, since they display works from the immense collection built up by the Roman Catholic Church throughout the centuries, including some of the most renowned classical sculptures and...
. - (The Age)
Between 1952 and 1960, Bose conducted numerous solo exhibitions in countries including the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, the United States of America, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and the former USSR, as well as in cities across 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...
.
When he retired in 1972, Bose was appointed honorary art advisor to the then President Shri V.V. Giri. Bose held this position until 1974.
Work
Sukumar Bose’s style can be described as Indo-Persian. He used largely solid colours such as black, red, gold and silver, but in softer tones. Bose painted several murals and frescoes. Some of his most striking wall paintings are in Rashtrapati BhavanRashtrapati Bhavan
The Rashtrapati Bhavan or The Official Residence of the Head of the State is the official residence of the President of India, located at Raisina hill in New Delhi, India. Until 1950 it was known as "Viceroy's House" and served as the residence of the Viceroy and Governor-General of India...
.
Bose also ventured into modern art by blending old and new techniques. However, Bose always adhered to classical principles of realism. As a result of his art education, Bose was more of a traditionalist, preferring realism over the more abstract styles of interpretation. Described by The Bombay Chronicle as a “versatile artist”, Bose was a firm believer in the learning of technique. To him, anyone who argued otherwise was merely incapable of withstanding “a steady and strenuous physical and intellectual hardship.” [1]
Bose worked with a variety of subjects such as Indian mythology
Indian mythology
Indian mythology may refer to:*Indian epic poetry*Vedic mythology*Hindu mythology*Buddhist mythology*Native American mythology...
motifs, landscapes, animals and village women. Bose’s artistic treatment and style of expression of these motifs and subjects can be said to have set the tone for the future trend and direction of Indian art.
Each of Bose’s works was a painstaking study of form, rhythm and natural beauty. For the human form, Bose experimented from time to time painting in the styles of Meerabai and 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...
.
Citations
- The Bombay Chronicle, Sunday 16 September 1934: "Sukumar Bose, Versatile Artist"