Calcutta is credited with launching the contemporary Indian art movement in Modern Indian painting in the late 1800s. The traditional painting traditions had largely died out in Bengal, and the British established new schools of art. Raja Ravi Varma, for example, leaned on Western traditions and techniques such as oil paint and easel painting at first. As a reaction to Western influence, the Bengal school of art, which relied on India's rich cultural past, resurrected primitivism. This article will explain to you the concepts related to Modern Indian Painting which will be helpful in Indian Art and Culture preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Modern Indian Painting

• Indian painting, as an extension of Indian miniature painting, was declining by the end of the nineteenth century, with only limited artistic expression in the interim via the 'Bazaar' and 'Company' styles of painting, as well as some folk arts around the country.
• Then came the newly introduced Western philosophy of naturalism, whose most prominent proponent was Raja Ravi Verma.
• Abanindranath Tagore made an attempt to stem this cultural quagmire, and under his inspired guidance, a new school of painting was born, which was decidedly nostalgic and romantic at the outset.
• For more than three decades, it was known as the Bengal School of Painting, also known as the Renaissance School or the Revivalist School.
• The period following WWII unleashed extraordinary and entirely new political and cultural forces and situations, which the artist had to contend with.
• The time roughly corresponded to the country's independence. With independence comes the possibility of never-before-seen possibilities.
• With far-reaching effects, the artist was placed on a general road of modernization and confrontation with the large, wide world, particularly with the Western World.
• The artists assimilated the change that was forced upon them by the situation and a desire to modernise (to adopt the ideas such as impressionism, expressionism or post-expressionism in the realm of arts).

Colonial Painting

• During the colonial period, a hybrid painting style arose, combining Rajput, Mughal, and other Indian painting styles with European influences.
• They influenced the artwork with European styles and techniques. When the British Company officers hired painters who had been schooled in Indian styles, these paintings resulted.
• As a result, they combined their Indian training with their bosses' European sensibilities. The 'Company Paintings' were dubbed as such.
• The use of water colour set them apart, as did the appearance of linear perspective and shading in technique. Kolkata, Chennai, Delhi, Patna, Varanasi, and Thanjavur were the birthplaces of this painting style.
• Lord Impey and Marquess Wellesley were patrons of the painters, and several of them were working on paintings of India's "exotic" flora and animals.
• Until the twentieth century, this style of painting was popular.

Colonial Painitngs

Bazaar painting

• The European encounter in India had an impact on this school as well. They differed from the Company paintings in that they combined European and Indian methods and themes.
• The Bazaar school was influenced by Roman and Greek culture rather than Indian culture. The painters were forced to imitate Greek and Roman statuary.
• This school was quite popular in Bengal and Bihar. Apart from Greco-Roman history, they created paintings depicting everyday bazaars in India with a European backdrop.
• The depiction of Indian courtesans dancing before British officials was one of the most well-known genres.
• They painted religious themes as well, but figures of Indian Gods and Goddesses with more than two axes, as well as elephant faces such as Lord Ganesha's, were forbidden since they departed from the European notion of a natural human figurine.

Raja Ravi varma paintings

• Raja Ravi Verma is regarded as one of India's most talented painters.
• He is widely regarded as the founder of the contemporary painting school. Because of the overwhelming influence of western techniques and motifs, the school was dubbed "modern."
• He was unique in that he combined elements of South Indian art with western colour and style techniques.
• Because of his bright brush strokes and extremely lifelike paintings, he was dubbed the "Raphael of the East" and came from the state of Kerala.
• Lady in the Moonlight, Mother India, and other works by him are well-known.
• His paintings from the epic Ramayana, particularly the one named 'Ravana Kidnapping Sita,' earned him national acclaim.

Painting by Raja Ravi Verma

Bengal School of Art

• The Bengal school is thought to be a reactionary response to the established painting trends of the 1940s and 1960s.
• This school stands out because of its use of muted colours. The Bengal school was founded on the writings of Abhanindranath Tagore in the early twentieth century.
• His Arabian Night series created an impact on a global scale since it broke away from past Indian painting schools and introduced something fresh.
• He attempted to infuse Swadeshi values into Indian art and to lessen the influence of Western art styles on artists.
• Bharat Mata and other Mughal-themed paintings are among his most well-known works.
• Nandlal Bose is another renowned painter from this school, whose works influenced the development of modern Indian art.
• He has ties to Santiniketan as well. He is best known for his iconic white-on-black Gandhi sketch from the 1930s. He was also charged with the responsibility of illuminating the Indian Constitution's original document.

Painting by Nandlal Bose

• Rabindranath Tagore was a well-known painter from this style. His paintings are distinct in that they have bold black lines that emphasise the topic.
• He painted on a tiny scale. His paintings, according to some art historians, can be linked to his writings. He penned vivid poems, and his paintings had a similar feeling of rhythm to them.
• Rabindranath Tagore was a very spiritual guy, and many of his works reflect this. Many of his students went on to become well-known Bengal school painters.

Cubist Style of Painting

• Painting's cubist trend was influenced by the European Cubist movement. The artefacts were broken, analysed, and then reassembled in this method.
• Through the use of abstract art forms, the artist rebuilt this process on the painting. They attempted to attain the ideal balance of line and colour.
• M.F Hussain, who created the 'Personification of Romance' series of paintings, was one of India's most popular cubist artists.
• He commonly utilised the subject of a horse in works with abstract meanings since it was the finest way to convey the fluidity of motion.

Cubist Style of Painting

Progressive Artists Group

• Another group of artists drew the attention of the art world in 1947 with their use of advanced and daring topics. These ideas were mixed up with softer, more abstract ones.
• They didn't have much in common, yet they were all inspired by European Modernism. Francis Newton Souza founded the organisation, although its most well-known members included S.H Raza, H.A Gade, Ara, and others.
• M.F Hussain, a well-known cubist painter, was a member of the Progressive Artist Group.
• Mulk Raj Anand was a patron of their first art show, which took place in 1948. They've grown into a major collective since then, with numerous galleries in Delhi and Mumbai.

Paintings by - Left: M. F. Husain - Peasant Couple, 1950. Peabody Essex Museum, Courtesy of the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA. Photography by Walter Silver / Right: F. N. Souza - Untitled, 1962

Conclusion

The old painting traditions had all but died out in Bengal, therefore the British established new schools of art.Raja Ravi Varma, for example, drew on Western traditions and techniques, like oil paint and easel painting, to begin with. As a reaction to Western influence, the Bengal school of art, which drew from India's rich cultural past, resurrected primitivism. The Santiniketan school, led by Rabindranath Tagore, was superseded by the Santiniketan school, which harkened back to idyllic country folk and rural life.

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Explain the significance of the Bengal School of Art in shaping modern Indian painting.

Answer: The Bengal School of Art played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian painting by rejecting Western artistic norms imposed during colonial rule. Led by Abanindranath Tagore, the movement revived traditional Indian forms, such as Mughal miniatures and Ajanta frescoes, promoting indigenous art. It emphasized simplicity, spirituality, and Indian themes, aligning with the nationalist movement. The Bengal School’s influence extended beyond art, as it inspired artists to reflect on cultural identity and heritage. This laid the foundation for future artists to blend Indian traditions with modern expressions, contributing significantly to the development of contemporary Indian art.

Q2. How did Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings influence Indian art and society?

Answer: Raja Ravi Varma revolutionized Indian art by merging European realism with Indian themes, particularly mythology and classical stories. His paintings made stories from epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana visually accessible to common people. Varma’s ability to depict deities in lifelike forms democratized religious imagery, inspiring artists and influencing popular culture. He also laid the groundwork for the development of calendar art, which spread religious and cultural themes across India. His art bridged the gap between tradition and modernity, marking a new era in Indian painting and making art more relatable to the masses.

Q3. Analyze the impact of post-independence art movements on modern Indian painting.

Answer: Post-independence, Indian art witnessed the rise of new movements, with the Progressive Artists' Group being a notable example. Artists like M.F. Husain, Tyeb Mehta, and F.N. Souza explored abstract, surrealist, and expressionist themes, breaking away from colonial influences. These movements encouraged experimentation, with artists addressing themes of identity, partition, poverty, and urbanization. The establishment of institutions like the Lalit Kala Akademi provided further support for artistic innovation. This period marked the transition from nationalist art to self-expression, reflecting the dynamic socio-political changes in the country and solidifying India’s position in the global art scene.

Previous Year Questions on  Modern Indian Painting

1. UPSC CSE 2021

Question. Discuss the influence of the Progressive Artists' Group on Indian modern art.

Answer: The Progressive Artists' Group (PAG), formed in 1947, had a significant impact on Indian modern art by encouraging artists to explore new styles and break away from traditional forms. Artists like M.F. Husain, F.N. Souza, and S.H. Raza introduced abstract, surrealist, and expressionist themes. The group reflected the socio-political changes post-independence, addressing issues such as identity, urbanization, and partition. Their experimentation with form, color, and subject matter marked a departure from nationalist themes, promoting art as a medium of self-expression. The PAG played a key role in shaping contemporary Indian art and brought Indian art to the global stage.

2. UPSC CSE 2022

Question. How did Amrita Sher-Gil contribute to the development of modern Indian painting?

Answer: Amrita Sher-Gil is regarded as a pioneer of modern Indian painting. She blended Western techniques, acquired from her training in Europe, with Indian themes, creating a unique style. Sher-Gil’s works focused on the lives of ordinary Indians, especially women, reflecting social realities with a subtle emotional depth. Paintings like "The Village Scene" and "The Brahmacharis" depicted rural India with empathy and insight. Her work bridged the gap between the East and the West, inspiring future artists to explore themes beyond traditional religious motifs. Sher-Gil’s legacy continues to influence Indian art, making her an enduring figure in the history of modern Indian painting.