ECHOES OF BENGAL: A COLLECTOR'S LEGACY
June 10 - June 30 , 2025
The early years of the 20th century saw the emergence of a distinctive style of art in India, later referred to as The Bengal school. This movement emerged in response to both colonial dominance and a growing desire for national identity.
Abanindranath Tagore, a member of the illustrious Tagore family, is considered to be a pioneering spirit of this artistic movement. Under his leadership, the Bengal School came to be known for its new visual language – poetic, spiritual and inherently Indian. Though he initially trained in western realism, he turned to indigenous art forms drawing inspiration from the Mughal Miniatures and Rajput paintings, blending these influences with east Asian aesthetics. He mentored several artists and thinkers, helping them to shape modern Indian art. Some of these artists became well known for their close association with the Bengal school. The themes of these artists ranged from the spiritual and mythology to the simplicity of the pastoral. These subjects were depicted in a distinctive style using delicate yet well-defined lines, the ethereal beauty of forms reminiscent of the Ajanta murals all coalescing in the exquisiteness of gently muted colour.
Originally from the collection of Raja Prafullanath Tagore (1887 – 1938), these rare works by leading figures of the movement offers a unique glimpse into a cultural awakening that defined early 20th-century India. A distinguished aristocrat and patron of the arts, he was given a comprehensive education in his early years which fostered his interest in the cultural climate of his time. His patronage and legacy contributed significantly to the enrichment and enhancement of the Bengal School. Having remained in private hands for decades, the works are being shown publicly for the first time.
These lyrical compositions, subtle watercolour washes, references from mythology and the blend of mysticism with gentle naturalism not only reaffirms the Bengal School’s enduring influence on the history of Indian Art, but remain a testament to cultural resistance, aesthetic ingenuity, and the shaping of a national consciousness.
The exhibition features works by Abanindranath Tagore, H. A. Khastagir, Hiranmoy Roychaudhuri, I. P. Gangooly, Kshitindranath Majumdar, Lalit Mohan Sen, Sarada Charan Ukil and Shailendra Nath De.
The exhibition features works by Abanindranath Tagore, H. A. Khastagir, Hiranmoy Roychaudhuri, I. P. Gangooly, Kshitindranath Majumdar, Lalit Mohan Sen, Sarada Charan Ukil and Shailendra Nath De.
Images
Installation
Press
