Jamini Roy

Five figures with implements

About this artwork

Jamini Roy believed strongly that ‘a picture is not Indian because of its subject matter but because of its technique and conception.’ He worked in a harmonious style, which emphasised three elements: the two-dimensional flatness of the image, the framing of the drawing space, and a limited colour palette. Roy’s strong outline gives his drawn figures a fluidity and gracefulness that has no need for illusion or realism. The artist used drawing to distribute low cost ‘people’s art’ that celebrated Bengali cultural identity; particularly significant at a time when Bengal was under British colonial rule.  

Updated January 2023

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Jamini Roy

Jamini Roy