National Gallery of Modern Art-Parikraman

Nandalal Bose

A Sketch from Album No. 63 8654 Nandalal Bose Watercolour on postcard

Nandalal Bose mastered the Sino- Japanese techniques of painting being first influenced by Okakura Kakuzo and the train of Japanese artists who visited India after him especially Arai Kampo. The blurring of the linear outlines of the figures and the harmonious dilution of the colours were techniques Nandalal acquired from the arts of the Far East. The technique of modulating the ink tones from darker through lighter to obtain a variety of shadings from near white, through grey tones to blacks was mastered and implemented in several of his works. In the above monochromatic composition, Nandalal uses a series of diverse tones and brush strokes to render the flatland, distant trees and bushes in the tranquil landscaped vista. Nandalal Bose in his book, 'On Art' has written- "Nature is life itself and teeming always with infinite variety; it is in her that the artist always renews his experience and finds an unceasing flow of inspiration."