Kolkata, Apr 11: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday remembered legendary
painter Jamini Roy on his birth anniversary.
“Remembering legendary painter Jamini Roy on his birth
anniversary,” Ms Banerjee posted on her social networking page.
Born into a family of middle-class landowners on on April 11, 1887, Roy grew up in Beliatore, an obscure village in Bankura district in West Bengal. Having demonstrated an affinity for art from a young age, he was sent to study at the Government College of Art in the city at the age of 16.
The vice-principal of this college was Abanindranath Tagore (noted artist, writer and the founder of Bengal school of art) and it was under him that Roy trained in the classical western genre of landscapes and studio portraits. This was the prevailing academic tradition of that time and the gifted young lad was quick to learn the style.
This is why Roy’s initial work (in the early 1920s) reflect the influence of Western classical style of art as well as the avant garde Bengal school of art. However, while these works were technically perfect, they lacked a certain energy and enthusiasm.
Realising that he needed to draw inspiration, not from Western traditions, but from his own culture, Roy began experimenting with folk art and indigenous materials.
By 1925, he had become fascinated by the Kalighat style of painting and the unique features of its figures – big almond-shaped eyes, round faces, curvaceous bodies and firm contours.
Painted mostly on mill-made paper with fluid brushwork and vibrant natural dyes, Kalighat paintings are believed to have originated in the vicinity of Kolkata’s iconic Kalighat Temple. The paintings, which depicted mythological Hindu deities, mythological characters, tribal life, and themes from everyday life, were originally sold as souvenirs to temple visitors.
Inspired by the simple beauty of Kalighat paintings, Roy shifted his focus to rural India, especially the Santhal tribal culture of Bengal. He also abandoned the use of European paints in favour of natural mineral and vegetable-based pigments made from alluvial mud, seeds, powdered rock, flowers and indigo.
In 1934, he received a Viceroy's gold medal in an all India exhibition for one of his work. In 1954 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Central Government, the third highest award a civilian can be given.
In 1955, he was made the first Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, the highest honour in the fine arts conferred by the Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Art under the Central Government.
In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Union Ministry of Culture, declared his works among the "Nine Masters" whose work, to be henceforth considered "to be art treasures, having regard to their artistic and aesthetic value".
On April 11, 2017 Google India dedicated a Google Doodle to celebrate Roy on what would have been his 130th birthday.
Roy preferred himself to be called a patua. Jamini Roy died on April 24,1972. He was
survived by four sons and a daughter. Currently his successors (daughters-in-law and grand children and their children) stay at the home he had built in Ballygunge Place, Kolkata.
His works can be found in various museums and galleries across the globe. UNI
Born into a family of middle-class landowners on on April 11, 1887, Roy grew up in Beliatore, an obscure village in Bankura district in West Bengal. Having demonstrated an affinity for art from a young age, he was sent to study at the Government College of Art in the city at the age of 16.
The vice-principal of this college was Abanindranath Tagore (noted artist, writer and the founder of Bengal school of art) and it was under him that Roy trained in the classical western genre of landscapes and studio portraits. This was the prevailing academic tradition of that time and the gifted young lad was quick to learn the style.
This is why Roy’s initial work (in the early 1920s) reflect the influence of Western classical style of art as well as the avant garde Bengal school of art. However, while these works were technically perfect, they lacked a certain energy and enthusiasm.
Realising that he needed to draw inspiration, not from Western traditions, but from his own culture, Roy began experimenting with folk art and indigenous materials.
By 1925, he had become fascinated by the Kalighat style of painting and the unique features of its figures – big almond-shaped eyes, round faces, curvaceous bodies and firm contours.
Painted mostly on mill-made paper with fluid brushwork and vibrant natural dyes, Kalighat paintings are believed to have originated in the vicinity of Kolkata’s iconic Kalighat Temple. The paintings, which depicted mythological Hindu deities, mythological characters, tribal life, and themes from everyday life, were originally sold as souvenirs to temple visitors.
Inspired by the simple beauty of Kalighat paintings, Roy shifted his focus to rural India, especially the Santhal tribal culture of Bengal. He also abandoned the use of European paints in favour of natural mineral and vegetable-based pigments made from alluvial mud, seeds, powdered rock, flowers and indigo.
In 1934, he received a Viceroy's gold medal in an all India exhibition for one of his work. In 1954 he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Central Government, the third highest award a civilian can be given.
In 1955, he was made the first Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi, the highest honour in the fine arts conferred by the Lalit Kala Akademi, India's National Academy of Art under the Central Government.
In 1976, the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Union Ministry of Culture, declared his works among the "Nine Masters" whose work, to be henceforth considered "to be art treasures, having regard to their artistic and aesthetic value".
On April 11, 2017 Google India dedicated a Google Doodle to celebrate Roy on what would have been his 130th birthday.
Roy preferred himself to be called a patua. Jamini Roy died on April 24,1972. He was
survived by four sons and a daughter. Currently his successors (daughters-in-law and grand children and their children) stay at the home he had built in Ballygunge Place, Kolkata.
His works can be found in various museums and galleries across the globe. UNI
Post A Comment:
0 comments so far,add yours