Early twentieth-century Indian art saw many ideas of modernism. Modern art in India can be best understood as a result of which of the following?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → The conflict between colonialism and nationalism
Option (1) The Swadeshi movement after the Partition of Bengal — Incorrect. After the Partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi movement was at its peak and it reflected in ideas about art. It is not what modern art in India is understood as a result of.
Option (2) The divide between the anglicists and the orientalists — Incorrect. This divide was not based on race. It is not what modern art in India is understood as a result of.
Option (3) The conflict between colonialism and nationalism — Correct. Modern art in India can be best understood as a result of the conflict between colonialism and nationalism. Colonialism brought new art institutions, and nationalist artists asserted a more Indian taste.
Option (4) The meeting of the Western and Indian points of view — Incorrect. Amrita Sher-Gil is a perfect example of the meeting of both these points of view. She used the Bauhaus kind of style to depict Indian scenes. It is not what modern art in India is understood as a result of.
Note: This topic was not named in the CUET 2026 syllabus, but it was part of the NCERT chapter. In 2025 and 2026, NTA also asked questions on topics in NCERT that the CUET syllabus did not name. So our mocks have questions from every part of the NCERT chapter, to give you enough practice. Read the whole chapter, not only the sub-topics named in the syllabus.
NCERT (2026-27): “Different Concepts of Modernism: Western and Indian … The divide between anglicists and orientalists, as mentioned earlier, was not based on race. … Amrita Sher-Gil, whom we will discuss in the next chapter, is a perfect example of the meeting of both these points of view. She used the kind of style that the Bauhaus exhibition showed to depict Indian scenes. Modern art in India can be best understood as a result of the conflict between colonialism and nationalism. Colonialism introduced new institutions of art like art schools, exhibition galleries, art magazines and art societies. Nationalist artists, while accepting these changes, continued to assert more Indian taste in art and even accepted a larger Asian identity for a while.…” “Pan-Asianism and Modernism The colonial art policy had created a divide between those who liked the European academic style and those who favoured Indian style. But following the Partition of Bengal in 1905, the Swadeshi movement was at its peak and it reflected in ideas about art.…” |