Evening star., 1953-01-18
Art News
Arts of India
On View Here
By Florence S. Berrymon


and Constitution avenue), to
remain through February l, is
a fascinating display Of nearly
500 works in many media,
brilliant with color, lavish in
detail. surprising in range and
exotic in its glimpse of a civil
ization so different from our
own. Yet the great majority
OF the paintings and sculp-
lures on views are compara-
lively naturalistic; the layman
can receive their message with
greater ease than he can un-
derstand many of our native
exponents of abstract tech
niques.
The exhibition was organ
lied by the Academy Of Fine
Arts, Calcutta. and the ALL
India Association of Fine Art,
Bombay, and is sponsored by
the government of India. It
is the most comprehensive
exhibition of art from that
country that I have seen, al
though I recall a number of
beautiful Indian art shows
that have come to the United
States in the past quarter CEN
tury. Indeed, some of the
artists in the current exhibi-
ton were represented in the
earlier collections.
The paintings and sculptures
are the largest group, compris-
ing nearly 200 works by ap-
proximately 100 artists, includ-
ing "all the well-known Indian
artists" according to the EN-
bassy. The earliest artist rep
resented is Rabindranath Ia
gore, internationally known as
poet and composer, who died
in 1941. at the age of 80. His
paintings and ink drawings
are among the most contem-
porary in idiom of the works
on view. His two nephews.
who were nearly his age,
Gaganendranath Tagore, one
OF modern India's greatest
painters, but a strong individ-
ualist with such exquisite
works as Seven Champak
Flowers" and Abanindranath
Tagore, considered the founder
of the modern school (note his
haunting Winter Night'D as
we'll as the poets son Rathin-
dranath Tagore, now vice
chancellor of the Visha- -Bha-
rati University, give this dis
tinguiShed family adequate
representation.
Likeness Of Mohotmu Gondhi
In a sense the exhibition is
welcomed and bade farewell by
Manatma Gandhi. A natural
iStic bronze bust, a close like
ness complete with spec
tacles. by Hironmoy Roy
ChoWdhury, is the first work
one encounters on entering
the foyer, and the same sculp-
tors full-length figure in
bronze of Gandhi, has prom
inent placement at the rear
of the foyer. Still another
likeness of Gandhi, paint
ing by Ramedra Nath Chak-
ravorty, depicts him preach
ing to a multitude. Incidental
ly, a one-man show of etch-
ings and Woodcuts by the last
mentioned artist, opened last
Monday in the print gallery
of the Division of Graphic
Arts. Smithsonian Building, to
remain through February 8.
This Indian painter and print
maker is principal of the Gov
ernment College of Art and
Craft, Calcutta.
DR.. Nandalal Bose, one Of
whose work has been shown
previously in the United States,
is equally famed as painter
and teacher. His painting,
Might" (reproduced), illus
trateS his use of traditional
Indian art form, rhythmic line
and love of beauty.
At the Crossroads
Today, according to the En-
baSsy. Indian art stands at
the crossroads of ancient ira
dition and new experimental
ton. 1t shows a conscious ef-
fort at reviVing old techniques
and applying them to modern
motifs. From the linear graces
of Atlanta frescoes and detailed
artistry of Moghul and Rajput
miniatures to the expressive
Elasticity and atmosphere of
modern impressionist art and
coloring according to Chinese
and japanese styles. traces of
every kind of effort will be
noticeable in these paintings"
Among the many paintings
in traditional Indian style, 1
particularly liked "Gopal," by
Dhirendra Nath Brahma, ia
hangir offering his crown at
the feet of Meherunissa," by
Radhacharan Bagchi; silva
Parvati," by Srimati Rance
Chanda: "Meera's S Departure"
by Mrs. H. Dallas Cumi, and
silva in Disguise" by Amulya
Gopal Sen Sarma.
Naming the numerous west
ern influences some of the
paintings and sculptures sug-
gest would make an interest,"
ing survey. if space permitted.
A number of them may be en-
tirely fortuitous. Promode
Gopal Chatterjee's marble
horse recalls Rodin; the Flute
Player" by Sudhir Khastagir,
EHZ'"W '" -
FS An illesol eeekfisht .sorts I"