Question

Which of the following styles of art were a source of inspiration to Abanindranath Tagore and E.B. Havell?

• A. Academic Style of Colonial Art
• B. Company School of painting
• C. Mughal and Pahari Miniature
• D. Bundi paintings

Hint:

The Bengal School of Art was a nationalist movement that reacted against colonial art styles. Therefore, its inspiration had to come from pre-colonial, indigenous Indian art traditions like Mughal and Rajput (including Pahari) miniatures.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question asks about the artistic sources that inspired the founders of the Bengal School of Art, a key movement in modern Indian art.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
E.B. Havell, the principal of the Government College of Art in Calcutta, and the artist Abanindranath Tagore were the main proponents of the Bengal School. They rejected the Western Academic style of art (Option 1) that was being taught in British art schools in India, considering it materialistic and unsuitable for expressing Indian spiritual ideas. They argued for a revival of an authentic Indian art style. To do this, they turned to India's own artistic heritage for inspiration. Their primary sources of inspiration were the grace, delicate lines, and themes of Mughal and Pahari miniature paintings, as well as the ancient murals of Ajanta. These traditions represented the aesthetic and spiritual values they sought to revive in a modern context.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Mughal and Pahari miniature styles were a major source of inspiration for Abanindranath Tagore and E.B. Havell.