Jamini Roy was an Indian painter best known for combining traditional Indian and Western art styles to create unique and complex works. Born on April 11, 1887 in Beliatore, India, he went on to study under Abanindranath Tagore at the Government College of Art in Kolkata at age 16.
While there, he learned academic drawing and painting in the Western tradition. After graduating, Roy adopted the simple forms, flat colors, and humble paints of Bengali folk artists.
The artist garnered impressive success throughout his career, ultimately receiving the Padma Bhushan award from the Government of India in 1954, which is the third highest honor that can bestowed upon a civilian. Today, Roy’s works can be found in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, among others. Roy died on April 24, 1972 in Kolkata, India.
Jamini Roy is one of the most significant modern artist of 20th century Indian Art. His search for the essence of form led him to experiment with a variety of visual styles, language and diverse forms. He continues to be one of the most respected artists in India to date.
Roy was born on April 11, 1887 at Beliatore village of Bankura district in West Bengal. His parents were small estate landowners who chose to belong to a traditionally integrated community where no exclusivity was dictated by class or caste. As a young child, Roy was fascinated with patuas and their craft, he spent most days watching them work. With his interest and inclination on arts and crafts of his hometown, his father eventually sent him to the Government School of Art in Kolkatta (Calcutta). Three years at art school and soon thereafter were years of great financial hardship for Jamini Roy. He did many odd jobs like painting theatre scenes, backdrops and the like for professional theatre companies that flourished in north Kolkata. He finished his formal art education in 1916 and while he was still at the school he married Amiyasundari Devi to whom he had five sons and a daughter with.
