National Gallery of Modern Art-Parikraman

Nandalal Bose

A Sketch from Album No. 79 9009 Nandalal Bose Pen and ink and pencil on postcard

Nandalal had a strong affinity for sketching; his subjects being from the surrounding environs, people in their everyday life or anything that he found fascinating. He had firm belief that for the creation of art an intimate understanding of the nature and its ways is imperative. The range of Nandalal's artistic expression can be seen in the changing Indian landscapes, his varied images of nature and the portrayal of people and places. Dinkar Kowshik in his article 'Drawings and Sketches of Nandalal in the book, "Nandalal Bose - A collection of Essays" has written of Nandalal's sketches and drawings - "Much of his (Nandalal) strength and sensitive wealth finds expression in the spontaneity of his sketches. They are a veritable treasure of shrewd observation, powerful calligraphy, psychological insight, rich sallies of humour and emphatic portrayal of the flora and fauna." In this particular sketch the artist has portrayed three villagers passing through the fields with one of them carrying canned buckets tied across the stick and held onto the shoulder while the other is shown as carrying a canned basket atop his ahead. The artist has with the fluid handling of the line and its strong delineation in the calligraphic style lent grace and spirit to the form of the figures. The folds of their drapes, their coiffures, ornaments and their implements have been keenly observed by the artist in the sketch.