Modern Indian Painting

Modern Indian Painting can trace its roots in pre independence India when western influences started to make an impact on Indian art. A number of Indian Painters drew inspiration from the Western schools and used western principles and technique in their paintings. Raja Ravi Varma is a perfect example of such painters. Some painters like Jamini Roy made a conscious effort to keep his paintings, in both form and technique, as rooted as possible.

Colonial Influence in Modern Indian Painting

As stated above, the colonial hangover in Indian art was an unmistakable one, but yet there was an attempt to internalize the modern techniques and use them to depict Indian themes. Therefore, Modern Indian art can be called a phenomenon because although the artists are steeped in Western modernism, they also recount their cherished stories, or imbibe Hindu philosophy in their work.

The Post Independence era

By the time the Indian tricolor was unruffled for the first time in Delhi in August 1947,several Art Schools with fresh and innovative ideas had been established in India. Urban India boasted of galleries for the display of individual artist’s works. Major artists like Rabindranath Tagore and Amrita Shergill were beginning to gain international reputation.

The Progressive Artist’s Group

Shortly after independence, a group of young enthusiastic painters decided that they needed new ways to express Independent India in the Modern World. the founder members were six very important artists, namely- K. H. Ara, S. K. Bakre, H. A. Gade, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza and F. N. Souza. This group didn’t have a very long run (it was dissolved in 1956), but it left an idelible impact on Modern Indian Art.