Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Fine Arts

Chapter

The Modern Indian Art

Question:

Observe this image and answer the following question:

Identify the time period of this artwork.

Options:

1923 - 1925

1946-1947

1960-1962

1986-1987

Correct Answer:

1946-1947

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option 2- 1946-1947

The Lives of Medieval Saints, a mural in Hindi Bhavana, Shantiniketan, was created by Benode Behari Mukherjee around the eve of India’s Independence from Colonial rule, during 1946–1947. The mural employs the technique of fresco buono and covers almost 23 metre of the entire upper half of the three walls of the room. Mukherjee skillfully reminds us of the syncretic and tolerant tradition of Indian life as found in the teachings of great Bhakti poets like Ramanuja, Kabir, Tulsidas, Surdas and others. Despite his poor eyesight, the artist sketched directly on the walls without compositional sketches. The Lives of Medieval Saints was painted in modern style, where each figure is created with bare minimum lines. At the same time, each figure relates with its neighbour by way of rhythmic network of lines. In some ways, the mural reminds us of a painted woven tapestry, a profession that many of these saints belonged to. He was one of the earliest artists in modern India to realise the potential of a mural to become public art.