Study on the selected paintings of Abanindranath Tagore, 1871-1951, Indian painter; includes reproduction of the original paintings.

This volume provides a revisionary critique of the art of Abanindranath Tagore, the founder of the national school of Indian painting, popularly known as the Bengal School of Art. The book categorically argues that the art of Abanindranath, which developed during the Bengal Renaissance in the 19th–20th centuries, was not merely a normalization of national or oriental principle, but was a hermeneutic negotiation between modernity and community. It establishes that his form of art—embedded in communitarian practices like kirtan, alpona, pet-naming, syncretism, and storytelling through oral allegories—sought a social identity within the inter-subjective context of locality, regionality, nationality, and trans-nationality. The author presents Abanindranath as a creative agent who, through his art, conducted a critical engagement with post-Enlightenment modernity and regional subalternity.

The three stories in this collection are united by a common theme of chivalry and sacrifice. It was said that Abanindranath Tagore used his pen as an artist uses a brush – to colour old tales and bring them to vivid life. The stories are filled with unforgettable vignettes of heated desert sands and filigreed balconies clinging to sheer mountain walls. Ancient battles and family sagas come to life and it is easy to see how these stories inspired many young freedom fighters to dare and dream of overthrowing their colonial masters. Whether today’s reader seeks inspiration or is simply entertained by these tales of Rajput valor, they are a magical window to the richness of Indian literature.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. To ensure a quality reading experience, this work has been proofread and republished using a format that seamlessly blends the original graphical elements with text in an easy-to-read typeface. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

An unforgettable historical novella that leads you to the flowing sand dunes of Rajasthan, the clash of swords, to the courtyard of kings and queens. The book captures the spirit of a heroic past that never fails to move readers even today.

Abanindranath Tagore recalls his childhood and ancestral home with meticulous detail and gentle affection.

Reproduction of paintings of a Bengali school painter; includes critical introduction.