Question

(a) Identify any relevant painting of the Bengal School included in your course of study comprising of the following features and explain them in that painting accordingly. The creation of mystic and mellow style by using gloomy colouring with diffused light background and absence of any dark line or tone, which provide the experience of the astral world 

(b) Which one of the contemporary Indian painter you like the most? Write about the style, characteristics, materials etc. of his/her works. 

Answer 1

(a) This is a Higher Order thinking skills based’ question. A candidate is expected to identify a relevant painting of the Bengal School included in the course of study, comprising of the said features mentioned in the question and he/she is to explain these features initially particular painting accordingly. On the basis of the said features a candidate may identify following painting, however only one of them may choosen for description.

(1) Journey’s end 

(2) Rasa-Lila

(b) This is a ‘Higher Order thinking skills based’ question. A candidate is expected to identify a relevant contemporary (modern) Indian painter included in the course of study, while mentioning the style of his/her work, characteristics, materials etc. 

The painter can be any one from the contemporary period whose works the candidate appreciates, giving the reason why he/she appreciates the artist.

Answer 2

Paintings of Bengal School:

TITLE	ARTIST
Journey’s End	Abanindranath Tagore
Tiller of the Soil (Indian Farmer)	Nandlal Bose
Rasa-Lila	Kshitindanath Majumdar
Radhika	M.A.R.Chughtai
Meghdoot	Ram Gopal Vijayvargiya
Arjun Detach from War	Sarada Charan Ukil

Journey's End by Abanindranath Tagore:- 

The painting ‘Journey’s End’ was first published in the Bengali magazine ‘Prabasi’ and drew acclaim from the viewers as a great piece of art. The pain and suffering of a dumb beast of burden moved the painter so much that the pain he felt can be clearly seen in the half open eye of the beast. The picture is painted in the new technique which he evolved with the fusion of tempera technique of miniature painting and wash, the Japanese technique. 

Red, brown and yellow wash colours give the background and the sky is filled with the diffused light of sunset. The foreground is painted in the darker tones of the same colour to intensify the sense of pain. There is a tint of blue where the animal is about to collapse. A massive load on the camel’s back shows the greed of the master in exploiting the slaves to their last breath. No one is there to watch the thin stream of blood oozing out of its mouth. The weight he has been carrying all his life for his master is still enacted on his back so that it is not damaged. He has yet not given up hope of standing once more to deliver the goods to his master which he is given to carry. He is on his knees with his back legs upright and his head slightly raised as if he would make another attempt to get up. 

His life’s journey is about to come to an end with the end of the day. The painting is suffused with a romantic sentiment yet it evokes pity and sympathy from the viewers.

Answer 3

a) Rasa Lila by Kshitindranath Majumdar

b)  Among many contemporary artists Raja Ravi Verma is my favourite.

1. He was a self taught artist which inspires many young artists to learn Painting irrespective of availability of teachers to them. 
2. He mastered the art of Academic realism.
3. He was first Indian artist to use oil paint and master the art of Lithographic Reproduction for mythological subjects. 
4. He has painted paintings like Rama Vanquishing the Pride of Ocean, Krishna as Envoy,  Release of Ahilaya and many other paintings from Valmiki Ramayana.