National Gallery of Modern Art-Parikraman

Nandalal Bose

A Sketch from Album No. 85 9177 Nandalal Bose Pen and ink on paper

Nandalal Bose 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 is seen in the changing Indian landscapes, his varied images of nature and the portrayal of people and places. The fluid handling of the lines and their strong delineation in the calligraphic style gives a textured rendition to the bodies of the locals carrying baskets across their shoulders and also accentuates their vigour and strength. Nandalal renders the leaves of the trees and bushes in the background with quick strokes. R. Siva Kumar in the book, 'Rhythms of India: The Art of Nandalal Bose' has written, "Nandalal's drawing take through different landscapes and introduce us to life in different cultures- not cosmetically, but intimately. Done on small cards, these drawings are a visual record of the artist's sensory experiences, and they capture the varying moods and gestures with remarkable ease and economy."