E. B. Havell and Abanindranath Tagore worked together at the Government Art School, Calcutta. Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): For them, Mughal and Pahari miniatures were more important sources of inspiration than Company or academic painting.
Reason (R): The Government Art School, Calcutta was more inclined towards fine arts than the similar art schools in Lahore, Bombay and Madras.
In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).
Assertion (A): For them, Mughal and Pahari miniatures were more important sources of inspiration than Company or academic painting. — True. The two looked to Mughal and Pahari miniatures, not to the Company School or the academic style.
Reason (R): The Government Art School, Calcutta was more inclined towards fine arts than the similar art schools in Lahore, Bombay and Madras. — True. The schools in Lahore, Bombay and Madras focused on crafts like metalwork, furniture and curios.
Why R does not explain A? R compares the art schools and what they taught. It does not say why Havell and Abanindranath chose Indian miniatures as their models.
The correct reason for A: Havell and Abanindranath wanted a new type of painting that was Indian not only in subject matter but also in style, so they turned to Indian miniatures.
NCERT (2026-27): “The Bengal School …Both Abanindranath and Havell were critical of colonial Art Schools and the manner in which European taste in art was being imposed on Indians. They firmly believed in creating a new type of painting that was Indian not only in subject matter but also in style. For them, Mughal and Pahari miniatures, for example, were more important sources of inspiration, rather than either the Company School of Painting or academic style taught in the colonial Art Schools.” “Abanindranath Tagore and E. B. Havell The year 1896 was important in the Indian history of visual arts. E. B. Havell and Abanindranath Tagore saw a need to Indianise art education in the country. This began in the Government Art School, Calcutta, now, Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata. Similar art schools were established in Lahore, Bombay and Madras but their primary focus was on crafts like metalwork, furniture and curios. However, the one in Calcutta was more inclined towards fine arts.…” |