Indian art history

Did you know that The Bengal School of Art was an influential style of art that flourished in India during the British Raj in the late 19th century and early 20th century and was the fountainhead Indian art?

It arose as a nationalist movement reacting against the academic art styles being promoted in India at that time. It was called the Renaissance School as well as the Revivalist School because this movement championed the revival of the Indian ancient and medieval traditions.

The founder of this movement was Abanindranath Tagore, nephew of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore and an accomplished artist in his own right. He was supported by a host of disciples such as his sister Sunanyani Devi, Mukul Dey, Ramkinkar Baij, among others.

Continuing with a bit of history, soon after India became independent, a group of artists got together to form the Progressive Artists Group. Their objective was to establish new ways of expressing India in the post-colonial era. They were profoundly influential, and founding members were the likes of Hussain, Raza, Souza, among others. They were responsible for the recognition of Indian art globally.

And finally, the contemporary artists post 1985 arrived. They brought in their own very distinctive styles and subjects.

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