Curator Ashit Paul sheds light on a rare collection of oil paintings, lithographs and oleographs from the 19th century in this exhibition
Here’s an opportunity to feast your eyes on rare, what is famously known as ‘Pre-Bengal school’ art in your city. The Akar Prakar Gallery is currently showcasing a show titled, 19th Century Swadeshi Art, exhibiting a rare collection of oil paintings, lithographs and oleographs from that century. It’s a mixed bag of 18 litho pictures, five oleographs and nine artworks made using oil and mixed media by various artists. The art works range from themes like mythology, religion to social satire.
Pre-Bengal school art
Curator Ashit Paul who has been preparing for this show, for the last few months has been working on 19th century art since 40 years says, “I have planned to collect original art works which were the base of Pre-Bengal art, 19th century’s print and paintings are very co-related with theme and composition, techniques are influenced by European school.”
He adds that the products of this school brought a radical change in the scenario of art in Kolkata from the mid 19th century, these works are now known as the Pre-Bengal School. These artists also strengthened the base of the Bengal School to come. Both the British rulers and art connoisseurs of our country started to admit that the artists of this school could form a platform for ‘High Art’.
What’s on offer
Paul says, “Most of the works don’t mention the artist’s name, but we found few of them i.e. D Banerjee for oleographs, Bamapada Banerjee for oleographs, who himself was quite a reputed artist of that time and Annada Prasad Bagchi for lithograph pictures, who was the pioneering figure for the vast influence of Swadeshi art. There’s also oil paintings by B B Ghosh.”
Bamapada Bandyopadhyay’s oil paintings were printed in oleograph from Germany and captured the market of Calcutta. The German printers often failed to maintain the subtleness of another painter, Bamacharan Bandyopadhyay. Entering the 20th century, these pictures existed only for three decades. In the meantime, under the leadership of Abanindranath Tagore, the artists of Bengal School introduced Indian art to the world, consequently making it more modern.
Art connoisseurs and students can catch works before Abanindranath Tagore’s nationalistic art. This art was the major creative background for the future art movement. Nevertheless, everyone can enjoy the show — people who are interested in art history of our country, the collectors who are interested to collect rare artworks etc. Various Indian goddesses and Lord Krishna as well as mythological scenes have been depicted.
WHEN: Till October 15
WHERE: Akar Prakar Gallery, Hauz Khas Village, New Delhi
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