Art is arguably the most elegantly and subtly vociferous medium of stirring human intellect and creativity. It is profound imagery of pronunciation in a nuanced and intricate manner, without the use of words. The treasure trove of Indian art heritage is phenomenal. Indian artists have painted the world with a new brush of traditional modernization, which has proven to be eloquently refreshing. They have manifested a real sense of sheer brilliance, worthy of universal gaze. Indian painters have some of the most profound masterpieces in their repertoire which have managed to garner universal acclaim. Here is a list of the most prolific art pieces by Indian artistic legends that are true masterpieces.
Bharat Mata by Abanindranath Tagore
The iconic masterpiece is a rendition of British-ruled India, which is embodied through a saffron-clad woman, holding a book and rosary, emulating a sadhvi. The inspiration for this painting is so iconic that Abindranath Tagore’s Bharat Mata is one of the celebrated portraits of India. The theme is so captivating yet empowering; it exhibits a sense of foresightedness on the part of the painter. Tagore’s idea of India was so liberating for its times, as the country was still a colony of the British Empire. It evokes a sense of dynamic parallelism by depicting India as a Goddess and thus redefining patriotism and respect for the nation. However, it is a seemingly human portrayal which enumerates a symbolic personification of India of our future.
Horses by MF Hussain
Maqbool Fida Hussain is undoubtedly one of the most talented painters of India. His unprecedented acumen of painting and colours always delineate a sense of brilliance, which is ingenious. His works have a consistent occurrence of some constant muses, that evoke a sense of prolific artistic cognizance. One of the most extraordinary pieces produced by Hussain is the Horses. It is a depiction of the painter’s fascination for encompassment of power and energy through these relatively nimble creatures. The painting shows three horses in bold outlines and tremendous majesty. The painting has managed to fetch crores of rupees at Christie’s auction in 2008. The galloping boasts of the horses are an embodiment of free spirit and power, which Hussain always advocated through his works.
Three Pujarinis by Jamini Roy
Jamini Roy is a prolific personality of modern India, redefining the spirits of women-empowerment through his artistic manoeuvres. He is a painter par excellence, whose unparalleled execution of ideas through colours and patterns are magnificent. He was a prodigy of Abanindranath Tagore and the founder of the Bengal School of Art. Roy’s repertoire of artistic excellence encapsulates the Indian spirit of life and living. Despite being trained in Western genre of art, he chooses to explore the innate nuance of Indian culture and thereby produce his most iconic creation. It is none other than the Three Pujarins. The painting embodies the essence of India in every stroke. The painter was inspired by the folk art tradition of Bengal and thus used vibrant colours, like most of his works. Three Pujaran depicts three priestesses with almond-shaped eyes wearing indigo colour Bengali style sarees (a subtle hint of the Indigo movement against the British Rule), in a worshipping avatar. The women are poise and grace personified. They have dominant blue eyes and black contour lines. The painter is a treat to the eyes with such a unique splash of colours adorning the canvas.
Shakuntala by Raja Ravi Verma
Shakuntala is one of the most epic paintings by the erudite artwork of ancient India, Raja Ravi Verma. His works are a fusion of European techniques with an Indian sensibility, defining artistic tastes among people for several decades. Shakuntala is an oil painting, depicting a forlorn love of the whole Shakuntala-Dushyanta saga. Shakuntala is said to be deeply in love with the King, and the painting shows her pretending to remove a thorn from her foot, whilst stealing a glance of her beloved prince Dushyanata. The scene illustrates a youthful exuberance of love, yet nothing suggestive or inappropriate in that manner. The beauty of Shankunta is in her grace and mannerisms rather than symbolism or facial characteristics. Raja Ravi Verma has exceeded his artistic talent by this masterpiece, as it echoes a sense of universal parallelism of love and compassion.
Days of Glory by Satish Gujral
Satish Gujral is an exemplary Indian painter who took inspiration from the distributing experiences of partition to depict the predicament the painter faced in his formidable years. Days of Glory is ironically a rendition of the overwhelming emotions of bloodshed and sufferings that the painter faced during partition. The masterpiece is a depiction of helplessness, yet with enormous restraint. Amidst such unsettling disturbances, the painting embodies an oxymoronic emotion of compassion and repulsion. As if solidarity is the only response of this utterly morbid circumstance. The painting questions to the moral compass of the authorities and administration who gazed partition with pride and glory.
Mahishasura by Tyeb Mehta
Tyeb Mehta can be regarded as one of the finest contemporary artists of India. Mahishasura is one of his finest works, which has managed to fetch millions of accolades across the globe. It is particularly intriguing how Mehta drew the strings of personification of a mythological saga of the demolition of the demon by Goddess Durga, in such a lucid and humanitarian context. Despite being ancient imagery, the painting is a depiction of modern mayhem and eradicating the same with optimism and maybe sometimes violence.
Conclusion
India has been a pioneer in the field of art and culture. The world has seen the most prolific artists emerge from India and garnered universal applause. It is high time we as Indians should take pride in our heritage and celebrate these maestros and their work.
