Sayantani Dasgupta is an art practioner. She has completed her M.F.A in Kala Bhavana with specialisation in History of Art.
Gaganendranath Tagore was the only Indian painter, who accepted and utilised the structurality and vernacularity of cubism until 1940s.
Eclecticism had always been the key to strategies modernism and whenever Indian modern art is taken into consideration, it is evident through the contributions of Indian modern artists that they always preferred eclecticism to belligerent originality.
Gaganendranath Tagore, one of the noteworthy artists and cultural activists of his time also, showed such proclivity. Though, his witty cartoons served as authentication of his patriotic zeal but, his open-armed reception of a varied range of artistic influences and sources throughout his life too, cannot be denied. Perhaps it is the case of ‘The first impulse to rethink the conceptual basis and the expressive means of traditional art practice came from its encounter with western academic art under colonialism’- as stated by renowned art historian R.Siva Kumar.
To be more precise, Tagore’s architectural representation bathed in blue shares the common surreal nature prevalent in each scene of the film. The sharp edges and round curves along with structural manglings and distortions further strengthen their similarities.
While our eyes successfully adhere to the composition, the key hole format, which appears to be quite monotonous, but actually escalate the mystery, trapped in the fragments of space and forms and serves as the gateway to the then newly unlocked coexsistence of rhapsodic lyricism and formal tenability.
While the staircases shown in the background as well as at the base strengthen the incessant mystery, the extant of the human figure for a short span of time, segregates itself from the interwined rigorously exhibited angular surroundings yet succeeds in keeping the composition unified.
Tagore’s works with color
Gaganendranath Tagore had inclination towards proscenium lighting of dramas shows up in the swift washes of light evident through varied colour tones whose source of emanation remains veiled.
Title: Dwarkapuri Creator: Gaganendranath Tagore. Physical Dimensions: 12″ x 9″. Type: Water colour View it on Google Art
Sometimes,these flickering shades of light and tonal variations tend to conceal the shuddering mysterious presence and softens the fear of endless depth shown at the base. Thus, as the composer of this geometric lyricism, he softened cubism’s formal severity.
However, with Gaganendranath Tagore approaching cubism, the softening of angularity seemed to contradict with that of analytical cubism. As he was withdrawing the national preoccupation and gradually, his affinity towards poetic fairytales was getting more intense, the softened angularity added to the buoyant lyricism of Indian temperament. However, the contradiction does not end here.
Title: Cubist study: a crowded street scene Creator: Gaganendranath Tagore Physical Dimensions: 6 4/8″ x 9 1/2″ Type: Water colour View it on Google Art
Tagore’s art & avante-garde movement
The varied shades of oranges and blues, I believe were not fully adapted from cubism as , the orange pillar at the center of the composition with a surprising green rectangle arrests the vision with a fervant harmony, which seems anonymous to this avante-garde movement.
In other words, not only did Gaganendranath Tagore THE INDIAN CUBIST as addressed by Stella Kramrisch , reinvent cubism through its formal tendencies, but also managed to engage our vision to the varied range of structural representation of tones while cautioning us of the flowing sensibility adorning Indian art.
He is the conjunction connecting the clauses of rationality and airy lyricism and this work is a slice of the testimony which embraces this statement. To be more precise, he is the epitome of the decontextualising tendency which was an important attribute of early modern in Indian art.
4 Responses
i found these art Pieces Really optimising and kind of eye-opening or what we call Society of metaphor
Gaganendranath Tagore’s works are really exceptional fluidic expressions, mesmeraizes us. You have correctly depicted his work. Great indeed.
His works are really exceptional expressions, mesmeraizes us. You have correctly depicted his work. Great indeed.
Thanks 😊