| Medium | : | Tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 8.5 inch / 21.6 cm |
| Width | : | 24.4 inch / 62 cm |
| Dimension | : | W: 62 cm × H: 21.6 cm |
This untitled tempera on board by Jamini Roy depicts a Ramayana scene with Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana in exile, rendered in his folk-inspired modernist style. With bold outlines, flat colors, and rhythmic simplicity, the painting embodies Roy’s vision of blending epic storytelling with indigenous artistic traditions.
Jamini Roy | Untitled | Tempera on Board | 8.5 x 24.4 inches | Circa
Jamini Roy’s painting beautifully captures a scene steeped in Indian mythology and rural life, On the left, Lord Ram appears alongside his sons, Luv and Kush, capturing a familial moment of deep spiritual and emotional resonance. At the heart of the painting are two resting deer, their serene presence embodying nature’s harmony, further enhance the narrative’s pastoral tranquility. To the right of the hut, The solitary woman—likely Sita sits alone, her figure stylized with bold contours and simplified forms. Roy’s use of earthy tones, including muted yellows, and browns, abstract flower motif creates a serene yet evocative atmosphere, reinforcing the deep ties between mythology and rural tradition. The bold contours and flat color application align with his rejection of Western academic realism, embracing indigenous aesthetics. The themes of devotion, familial bonds, and spiritual reflection resonate deeply, making this work historically significant in the evolution of Indian modern art. Roy’s approach continues to inspire generations, ensuring folk aesthetics remain integral to contemporary artistic discourse. His ability to merge mythology with abstraction elevates the painting’s cultural and artistic impact.
This captivating tempera on board painting by Jamini Roy portrays a scene from the Ramayana, rendered in his distinctive folk-inspired style. The composition depicts Rama, Sita, and Lakshmana during their exile in the forest, seated within simple architectural frames that symbolize huts. A serene deer rests in the center, emphasizing the pastoral calm of the forest life. The figures are stylized with bold outlines, almond-shaped eyes, and earthy tones of red, yellow, and brown, reflecting Roy’s signature visual idiom derived from patachitra and Kalighat traditions. The symmetry of the composition, along with the decorative motifs on the background, creates a rhythmic and devotional quality, transforming this epic moment into a timeless folk narrative.
One of india’s most loved artists, Jamini Roy is remembered for forging a unique indian aesthetic for modern art by bringing together elements of traditional bengali folk art and kalighat patachitras, rendered in clean lines and earthy colours.
Born on 11 April 1887 in a landowning family in Bankura district of Bengal, Roy trained in European academic-realist painting at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta, and began his career painting landscapes and portraits.
Soon, moving away from these, he started experimenting with a more indigenous visual vocabulary. Level surfaces, flattening of design in depth, and the use of dissonant primary colours were aspects of folk painting that Roy incorporated in his work. Also, he took up the volumetric forms of the Kalighat patachitras. However, unlike the spontaneous brushwork of the traditional patuas, Roy’s lines were more restrained and precisely delineated.
Roy would paint several versions of a subject, breaking and reforming the theme over months. Turning his family into a production unit, he tried to emulate a craft-guild mode of artistic production. He painted on a wide range of themes—common people, mythological tales, Christian iconography, as well as visual characteristics of home-sewn Bengal quilts and Byzantine icons.
Roy was awarded the Viceroy’s gold medal in 1935, the Padma Bhushan in 1955, and elected a fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi in 1956. Declared a National Treasure artist in 1976, his works cannot be exported. He passed away on 24 April 1972.
If you’d prefer the artwork to arrive ready to hang, please get in touch with us to arrange framing and shipping at applicable charges.
Please note: Customs duties and import taxes may apply at your destination in accordance with your country’s regulations. Refer to our International Shipment document for guidance and support.
| Medium | |
|---|---|
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Surface | |
| Style |
