National Gallery of Modern Art-Parikraman

Nandalal Bose

A Sketch from Album No. 85 9189 Nandalal Bose Pen & Ink on postcard

Nandalal's fluid handling of the line and their strong delineation was the influence of the Far Eastern art practices. He understood the significance of the use of lines and experimented frequently in their execution from fine lines to being thick contouring lines and executed in a calligraphic fashion. In the above postcard, Nandalal uses the texture and fluidity of line to illustrate a woman ascending staircase, facing her back to the viewer. The folds of her sari and her tresses accentuates the rhythm and motion in the composition. Nandalal Bose in his book, 'On Art' has written- "To acquire right knowledge and perception one should study men and animals when they are on the move or are active: when one can note in action the how and wherefore of the body's muscles, tendons and joints. Such study makes for useful knowledge and its easy retention in mind. Such knowledge, without doubt, is natural and living."