Bengali artist Jamini Roy strongly believed 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. The strong, simplified, outline gives his Blue Dancer a fluidity and gracefulness. Roy used drawing to distribute low cost ‘people’s art’ that celebrated Bengali cultural identity. This was particularly significant during British colonial rule.