Jamini Roy: A Painter Who Revisited the Roots (P.B)

Book Details

• Publisher: Niyogi Books

• Author: Anuradha Ghosh

• Language: English

• Edition: First Edition

• ISBN: 9789391125363

• Pages: 184

• Binding: Paperback

• Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.2 x 0.4 inches

About the Book

Jamini Roy: A Painter Who Revisited the Roots by Anuradha Ghosh takes readers on an insightful journey into the life and work of one of India’s most iconic painters. A humble man who started his meditation in the narrow lanes of North Calcutta, Jamini Roy rose to become a silent revolutionary of art. Inspired by the folk traditions of Bengal, Roy created a unique artistic vision that would forever alter the course of Indian art, connecting rural traditions with the global art world.

This biography delves into the remarkable career of Jamini Roy from the late 1910s until his last days, exploring how his art evolved and how he reconnected with his indigenous roots. Ghosh examines the deep influence of various forms of folk art on Roy, and how he blended these traditions with the contemporary Modernist idiom. His work was marked by a conscious intention to simplify and reveal the essential form, creating a distinctly Bengal-based visual narrative.

The book also addresses the conflicts and contrasts that shaped Roy’s art—between the urban and the rural, and the local and the global. Told in an engaging and simple style, this book offers a window into the life of a man for whom art was both a livelihood and a meditative journey. It explores not only his artistic evolution but also his personal quirks, idiosyncrasies, and disciplined simplicity.

This biography is part of the Pioneers of Modern India series and serves as an essential read for those interested in the history of Indian art, as well as the life and legacy of Jamini Roy, a true pioneer who bridged the gap between rural folk art and modern global expression.