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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artist:Jamini Roy (1887 - 1972) Indian
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title:Five figures with implements
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date created:1930s
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materials:Gouache on paper
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measurements:20.60 x 27.00 cm (framed: 43.7 x 59.0 x 2.8 cm)
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object type:
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credit line:Presented by Mary Tara Marshall 2003
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accession number:GMA 4697
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gallery:
Jamini Roy
Jamini Roy
Born in Beliatore, West Bengal, Roy studied at the Calcutta College of Art. His early works were in a western, academic style, and he was particularly influenced by Post Impressionism. However, from 1925, Roy turned to traditional Bengali art for inspiration, adopting the style of folk painters or...