Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

Fine Arts

Chapter

The Bengal School and Cultural Nationalism

Question:

In addition to Calcutta, where did the Bengal School of Art influence artists, including the establishment of India's first national art school?

Options:

DPS

Vidyapeeth

Shantiniketan

Nalanda

Correct Answer:

Shantiniketan

Explanation:

Answer- Shantiniketan
Bengal School of Art influenced artists in different parts of the country, including Shantiniketan, where India's first national art school was founded.

The term ‘Bengal School of Art’ is not fully accurate. It is true that the first move to create a modern, nationalist school happened in Bengal but it was not restricted to this region alone. It was an art movement and a style of painting that originated in Calcutta, the centre of British power, but later influenced many artists in different parts of the country, including Shantiniketan, where India’s first national art school was founded. It was associated with the nationalist movement (Swadeshi) and spearheaded by Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951). Abanindranath enjoyed the support of British administrator and principal of the Calcutta School of Art, E. B. Havell (1861–1934). 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.