Beginning of Independent Art Expression in Bengal Style

Abstract

The Bengal style developed by Avanindranath Thakur was virtually a kind of movement of painting, which on one hand received a lot of praise and encouragement, on the other, there was opposition. After 1920, it took a new turn. Later, being rebuffed by the boredom of this style (Mughal and Anjata), influenced by the new trends, the revolt against the Bengal style in the young painters, some of the potential painters were flirting to find new ones. At the same time, other trends of art parallel to the Bengal style were also active within the Bengal style. The experiments of Gaganendranath Thakur were pioneer in this direction. Yamini Rai was working on folk art at this time. Apart from all these, Rabindranath Thakur and Amrita Shergill started independent art expression. Both these painters devised their own new art language by not staying within the stylistic boundaries, choosing the art icons of the past and the traditional art language. He understood art not for a particular class, caste, religion but for the entire human society. The entire canvas of such painters was dedicated to slum dwellers, exploited hungry and Harijans. Rabindranath Thakur and Amrita Shergill were rich in creative talent as well as taking on challenges. At a time when Bengal was dominated only by the Bengal style, painters hesitated for new experiments because they feared being labeled rebels for doing so. No old ever accepts new easily. Similarly, the new one also does not find the old favorable. Leaving the old, embracing the new, breaking the tradition or tradition, establishing new leaks. Has always been known as the rebel. In such a situation, the credit goes to Rabindranath Thakur and Amrita Shergill for going against that whole system and announcing the use and independent expression. Both artists broke the stagnation in the Indian art world.