Name the artist who developed his style inspired by the 'Patuas' of Kalighat :

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
Yamini Ray, also known as Jamini Roy, is the artist who is famously credited with developing his distinct modernist style by drawing profound inspiration from the 'Patuas' (scroll painters) of Kalighat. After receiving a conventional Western academic art education, Roy consciously rejected both the European style and the prevalent Bengal School's romantic idealism. His quest for a truly indigenous Indian visual language led him to the bazaar paintings of the Kalighat temple, where he embraced the raw vitality, simplicity, and directness of the folk style. He adopted their bold, sweeping, calligraphic outlines and the use of flat planes of solid, un-nuanced colour, creating simplified, iconic forms that were both nationalistic and deeply modern.

The incorrect option is 1: Gaganendra Nath Tagore was a notable figure in modern Indian art, but he is known for pioneering satirical cartoons and, more significantly, for experimenting with Cubist-inspired geometric forms and architectural studies. His intellectual and abstract approach is distinct from Jamini Roy’s direct adoption of the Kalighat folk painting idiom.

The incorrect option is 3: Asit Kumar Haldar was a leading proponent of the Bengal School, whose work was rooted in a revivalist agenda. His paintings employed the Wash technique, creating soft, misty, and ethereal effects, drawing influence from Ajanta murals and Mughal miniatures, which stands in contrast to the robust, linear, and brightly coloured Kalighat Patua style.

The incorrect option is 4: Amrita Shergil’s unique style was a synthesis of her European academic training and her passion for Indian subjects. While her art was revolutionary for its time, it was primarily influenced by Post-Impressionism, particularly Paul Gauguin, and the use of volume and emotional depth. Her sophisticated, painterly approach differs fundamentally from the simple, flat, and hard-contoured imagery of the Kalighat Patuas.