Gaganendranath Tagore painted City in the Night in watercolour. Consider the following statements about this painting:
(A) He softened Cubism’s formal geometry with a seductive profile, shadow or outline of human form.
(B) Zigzag planes together create a tight formal structure of the painting.
(C) The painter has taken references of stage props, partition screens, overlapping planes and natural daylight.
(D) Corridors, pillars, halls and staircases are painted on receding planes to conjure a magic world.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A) and (B) only
(A) He softened Cubism’s formal geometry with a seductive profile, shadow or outline of human form. — Correct. A profile, shadow or outline of human form softens the formal geometry of Cubism.
(B) Zigzag planes together create a tight formal structure of the painting. — Correct. The zigzag planes together give the painting a tight formal structure.
(C) The painter has taken references of stage props, partition screens, overlapping planes and natural daylight. — Incorrect. The fourth reference is artificial stage lighting, not natural daylight.
(D) Corridors, pillars, halls and staircases are painted on receding planes to conjure a magic world. — Incorrect. They are painted on the same plane to conjure a magic world.
NCERT (2026-27): “City in the Night This is a watercolour painting made by Gaganendranath Tagore (1869 –1938) in 1922. …He softened Cubism’s formal geometry with a seductive profile, shadow or outline of human form. …Zigzag planes together are able to create a tight formal structure of the painting. The painting is mysteriously illuminated by artificial light, one of the features of theatre. It shows his involvement with his uncle Rabindranath Tagore’s play staged in their house. The painter has taken many references of stage props, partition screens, overlapping planes and artificial stage lighting. Endless corridors, pillars, halls, half-open doors, screens, illuminated windows, staircases and vaults are painted on the same plane to conjure a magic world.” |