Art & Culture

The Bengal School of Art led by Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Nandlal Bose, and Jamini Roy emerged in the late 19th-century Kolkata, aimed to revive India’s rich artistic heritage. It rejected Western art styles taught in colonial institutions and focused on creating a uniquely Indian art form to both express the nation’s cultural identity and fuel Indian nationalism.

Role of the Bengal School of Art, specifically its paintings, in the Indian nationalist movement

• Swadeshi Spirit: It echoed the Swadeshi Movement’s call for indigenous production and self-reliance. For instance, Nandalal Bose’s “Haripura Posters” exemplified Swadeshi ideals by using indigenous techniques and themes to reflect Indian life and culture.
• Promoting Self-Reliance: Abanindranath Tagore’s painting “Bharat Mata” (Mother India) is an iconic representation of the motherland as a goddess. It symbolized the idea of India as a nurturing and self-sufficient entity.
• Mass Appeal: Works of the Bengal School were often reproduced in widely read journals like “Modern Review,” thereby extending their reach beyond elite circles. This democratization of art helped to amplify its nationalist message.
• Visual Language: Artists like Jamini Roy adopted folk styles from rural Bengal, effectively providing a visual language to express abstract nationalist principles like unity among India’s diverse communities.
• Cultural Identity: Artists like Kshitindranath Majumdar portrayed traditional Bengali culture and rituals in their works. It contributed to constructing a unique Indian identity at a time when colonial rule was systematically eroding traditional practices and cultural expressions.
• Mythological Themes: Asit Kumar Haldar’s art, infused with depictions of Lord Krishna and Radha, contributed to a revival of Indian mythological themes, which in turn helped to ignite a collective consciousness rooted in a shared past.
• Anti-Colonial Sentiments: Nandalal Bose’s painting depicting “Shivaji’s Raid” celebrated the Maratha hero, serving as an artistic rallying point against foreign domination and inspiring the populace to reflect on their own capacity for resistance.

Ways in which Art become a medium for political expression:

• Visual Literacy: In a country with a high illiteracy rate, visual forms like Rangoli and Warli art served to engage those who couldn’t read or write. These traditional art forms were often used in rallies and public gatherings, democratizing the discourse surrounding nationalism.
• Iconography: The painting “Bharat Mata” by Abanindranath Tagore became synonymous with the nationalist movement, encapsulating the struggle for freedom and unity against colonial rule. This iconic image mobilized the public and offered a focal point for collective aspirations.
• Inclusivity: Different regions had their unique art forms, such as the Tanjore paintings in the South and Bengali Patua in the East. These forms were adopted to articulate a unified nationalist narrative, showcasing the country’s cultural diversity while stressing its unity.
• Subversion: Artists like Chittaprosad used stark imagery to critique colonial policies subtly. His work on the Bengal Famine, for example, exposed the harsh realities of British rule, generating both national and international condemnation.
• Propagation: Artwork was disseminated through nationalist publications like “Young India,” expanding the scope of their influence. Visual elements, including sketches and cartoons, were powerful in shaping public opinion against British policies.
• Public Spaces: Street murals and art installations in public squares served as constant reminders of the struggle. During the Quit India Movement, murals depicting freedom fighters and symbols of resistance became fixtures in public spaces, keeping the fervour of nationalism alive.
• Accessibility: The simplicity of some artworks, such as the symbol of the Charkha (spinning wheel), made them easily relatable. Posters featuring these symbols reached even the most remote areas, tying ordinary citizens to the larger cause of independence.
• Non-verbal Resistance: They offered a non-violent yet powerful avenue for resisting colonial rule. Paintings and sketches that celebrated the Salt March, for example,underlined the significance of peaceful protest and had a profound influence on the collective psyche.

Overall, the aesthetic and thematic choices made by artists of the Bengal School of Art provided a visual language that powerfully complemented the political and ideological rhetoric of the time. Art, thus, became an effective medium for political expression, merging culture and politics in a way that had a lasting impact on the Indian freedom struggle. &nbsp