The artist from Rajasthan was famous for his series of paintings and drawings of 'Buffaloes':

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
P. N. Choyal (Pannalal Choyal) is the correct answer. Hailing from Udaipur, Rajasthan, P. N. Choyal is one of the pivotal figures of modern Indian art, known for his unique contribution to the Udaipur School of Art. His iconic series of paintings and drawings centered on the theme of 'Buffaloes' established his reputation and gave him the epithet 'Buffalo Artist.' Choyal's buffaloes are not mere realistic animal studies; they are often powerful, brooding, and monochromatic forms that symbolize human emotions, societal oppression, or existential loneliness, reflecting his distinctive, deeply expressive style that blended local experience with modernist principles. This series is a landmark work in the history of contemporary Rajasthani painting.

The incorrect option is 2:
N. S. Bendre (Narayan Shridhar Bendre) was a leading Indian modernist and a key figure in establishing the Faculty of Fine Arts at M.S. University, Baroda. He is famed for his vibrant, colourful paintings, particularly his landscapes and figure studies, which often employed a post-impressionistic style with touches of Cubism. While he painted a wide variety of subjects, his artistic identity is not primarily defined by a specific series on buffaloes. His work is recognized for its dynamic use of colour and light, setting him apart from Choyal's monochromatic expressiveness. He is more closely associated with the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group and the Baroda School.

The incorrect option is 3:
Himmat Shah is primarily recognized as an avant-garde sculptor and graphic artist, not a painter famous for a buffalo series. He was an influential member of the Group 1890 and is particularly celebrated for his abstract terracotta or plaster 'Heads'—powerful, highly textured, and often burnt or distressed sculptural forms. These heads are the central motif in his distinguished body of work, representing abstract human presence and primal energy. His artistic career focused on exploring texture, material, and abstraction in sculpture, which is a focus distinctly different from the theme of the question.

The incorrect option is 4:
Suresh Sharma is a contemporary artist from Rajasthan, but he is not the artist historically famous or uniquely identified with the 'Buffaloes' series that marked a significant phase in modern Rajasthani art history. P. N. Choyal's association with the buffalo motif is canonical in Indian art history and the defining work of his career. While Suresh Sharma is a notable name, working across various media and subjects, he does not possess the same specific historical distinction for the 'Buffaloes' subject as P. N. Choyal, who pioneered this theme in the region.