Abanindranath Tagore, a revolutionary artist, contributed significantly to Indian Art throughout the turmoil of history and influenced future generations (Cultural India, no date, & Nandhakumar, 2023). He led a counterculture action against dominating Western Art, where he wanted to revive Indian Art Movements (Nandhakumar, 2023). Abanindranath Tagore enriched Indian Art with talents and creativity inspired by worldwide artistic style, including “techniques of European, Japanese, Rajput, Mughal Persian art and tradition” (ibid). His life story explains why he deserves a worthy eulogy after his death in the name of saving Indian Art (ibid).
Overview of the Artist’s Life and Philosophy | Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore started his Western education in the combination of artistic motivation, where he later aspired to make his career (Cultural India, no date, & Nandhakumar, 2023). Unfortunately, he gradually became utterly disgusted and bitter with the Western Art movement and orientalism with his revolutionary determination, as shown in Image 1 (Cultural India, no date, & Nandhakumar, 2023). Rebellious, he formulates a new movement following the “common nature” of revolutionizing against the British Raj (Cultural India, no date, Nandhakumar, 2023, & Sharma, 2022). Abanindranath Tagore demonstrated his strong desire to launch a spiritual movement to oppose materialism from the Western counterpart that would have plagued India (Cultural India, no date & Sharma, 2022). He enriched Indian culture by taking the root of true pan-Asian, Hindu, and Buddhist philosophy, which ironically fascinated “British Administrators” and Europeans (Cultural India, no date & Sharma, 2022).
Abanindranath Tagore formed the Benghal School of Art to attract many students; he also developed “children’s literature and art” and significant works to the point of receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature, unthinkable at the time of colonialism (Cultural India, no date, Nandhakumar, 2023, & Sharma, 2022). Yet, Abanindranath Tagore was eccentric as he tried to live a mundane life with his revolution despite the turmoil history of India (Cultural India, no date). His life was exciting and yet calm to note that his lesson on people who inspired to become an artist to live a mundane life and revolutionize what they can do.
Style of Abanindranath Tagore’s Work
Abanindranath Tagore’s style of work is a movement that is inspiring to the Western and Indian world (Nandhakumar, 2023). He utilized the artistic techniques of “The Mughal School of Painting” and Whistler’s Aestheticism” as well as Rajput art forms (Cultural India, no date, & Sharma, 2022). He also integrated with “Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions,” some with Tempera and Japanese Wash technique (Cultural India, no date, Nandhakumar, 2023, & Sharma, 2022). Abanindranath does not restrict himself to “Eastern” and “Westerner” Styles (Indian Culture, no date). He explored some mixture of western movements like English Pre-Raphaelite and Art Nouveau (Nandhakumar, 2023). Abanindranath showed his native background and exploration of what is native to him and how he can modernize them inspired by the worldwide art movements from East Asia to Europe (Cultural India, no date).
Most Significant works
Three significant works picturized what Abanindranath Tagore has done in his life. The first one is Bharat Mata referred to as the “chants of Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” using this nationalism, motherhood, and the Benghal movement (Sharma, 2022). “Bharat Mata,” a “Four-armed Hindu Goddess,” was brought significant in 1905 during tough times (Sharma, 2022 Image 2). The second is the “Birth of Krishna,” which represented happiness, ironically made Krisha travail through the trials and horrors of Krishna with the assistance of helpers to overcome the struggle from birth in a dungeon to salvation by others (Sharma, 2022, Image 3). The Last one was the Khagen Babu, where the “middle class” and the people needed to receive attention during colonialism (Sharma, 2022, Image 4). Abanindranath Tagore seemed to tame the fact that nationalism, culture, religion, and commoners are one of many features that is part of Indian art that need to inspire people.
Recognition after death | Abanindranath Tagore
Abanindranath Tagore’s life played a recognized “role model for artists of all generations,” but the recognition is not widespread (Cultural India, no date, & Nandhakumar, 2023). Disgustingly, some paintings are infamously locked away by the authority, “Rabindra Bharati Society Trust,” after Abanindranath Tagore’s death despite his son Alokendranath attempting to put trust for almost all his father’s artworks the authority for safety reasons (Cultural India, no date). There is an effort to revive Abanindranath Tagore’s fame, but tragically not enough to receive his fame for him to deserve recognition (Das, 2023).
Abanindranath Tagore’s Legacy
Abanindranath Tagore has contributed so much; the recognition after death is much more deserving as they are making comments and efforts to raise his legacy with the likes of Rabindranath, which the government made no effort to “celebrate (Das, 2023, & Nandhakumar, 2023). The paintings and sketches, as well as his contribution to independence, had had more influence on India and the rest of the world lest they forget his existence of art (Das, 2023, Sharma, 2022 & Nandhakumar, 2023). One thing is crucial to the future of the art world. He should become famous in history and to the present day for more artwork to inspire more artists to recognize his struggle and effort to bring nationalism to India.
Bibliography
Cultural India (no date) Abanindranath Tagore Biography – Life History, paintings & artwork, facts, Biography – Life History, Paintings & Artwork, Facts. Available at: https://www.culturalindia.net/indian-art/painters/abanindranath-tagore.html (Accessed: March 19, 2023).
Das, S. (2023) Abanindranath Tagore: Garden House of the homing artist restored, Return to frontpage. Available at: https://frontline.thehindu.com/arts-and-culture/heritage/abanindranath-tagore-garden-house-of-the-homing-artist-restored/article66493182.ece (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
India Culture (no date) INDIAN CULTURE. Available at: https://indianculture.gov.in/node/2686756# (Accessed: March 19, 2023).
Kumar, R.S. (no date) STIRworld. STIRworld.com. Available at: https://www.stirworld.com/inspire-people-celebrating-abanindranath-tagore-the-art-teacher-for-a-modern-india (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
Nandhakumar, K. (2023) The man who revolutionised indian art, PRATHA. PRATHA. Available at: https://www.prathaculturalschool.com/post/abanindranath-tagore (Accessed: March 19, 2023).
Sharma, S. (2022) Available at: https://www.simplykalaa.com/post/abanindranath-tagore-indian-artist-who-started-modern-art (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
Tagore, A. (1895) Birth of Krishna, Google. Google. Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/birth-of-krishna-abanindranath-tagore/4QEwoBmU2gXDTQ (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
Tagore, A. (1905) Bharat Mata (c. 1905), Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abanindranath_Tagore#/media/File:Bharat_Mata_by_Abanindranath_Tagore.jpg (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
Tagore, A. (no date) Khagen Babu, Google. Google. Available at: https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/khagen-babu/CgErQKgAAK7mkA?ms=%7B%22x%22%3A0.5%2C%22y%22%3A0.5%2C%22z%22%3A8.650640794341834%2C%22size%22%3A%7B%22width%22%3A3.6378518766756036%2C%22height%22%3A1.2375000000000003%7D%7D (Accessed: March 20, 2023).
