Renaissance period of Indian painting is known as:

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
The Bengal School of Art is universally recognized as the "Renaissance period of Indian painting" because it marked the first cohesive, modern movement to actively counter Western artistic dominance and search for an authentic Indian identity in art. Founded by visionaries like Abanindranath Tagore in the early 20th century, this school championed a return to indigenous aesthetics, drawing heavily on the lyrical qualities of Mughal and Rajput miniatures, the grandeur of Ajanta murals, and the spiritual depth of Asian art, particularly Japanese wash techniques. This nationalistic revival provided a new artistic language that rejected colonial academic realism, establishing the foundational modern school from which all subsequent contemporary Indian art movements emerged.

The incorrect option is 2:
Miniature School is an incorrect classification as it refers to a broad historical genre of painting—specifically, small-scale, detailed artworks that flourished under the patronage of the Mughal, Rajput, and Pahari courts between the 16th and 19th centuries. While the Bengal School drew stylistic inspiration from these miniature traditions, it was not merely a continuation of them. The Miniature School had already seen a decline in royal patronage before the modern revival began, and therefore, it does not represent the modern 'Renaissance' or rebirth of Indian painting.

The incorrect option is 3:
Abstract Art is a term for art that does not depict recognizable external reality but uses forms, colours, and lines to create its composition. This style is not associated with the initial Renaissance period in India. Pure abstract art gained prominence in the Indian modern art scene much later, mainly with post-independence groups like the Progressive Artists' Group (PAG) in the mid-20th century. The Bengal School primarily dealt with discernible subjects—historical, mythological, and spiritual—executed in a non-realistic, ethereal style, making it distinct from abstract art.

The incorrect option is 4:
Folk Art refers to the traditional, community-based, and ritualistic art forms created by local or rural artists, such as Madhubani or Warli painting. Although the Bengal School, through artists like Jamini Roy, admired and incorporated elements of folk art's simplicity and bold lines into their work, it was not the name of the formal, nationalistic art movement. The "Renaissance" refers to the concerted effort by formally trained artists to revive high art, whereas folk art has existed continuously as a separate, self-sustaining cultural stream.