National Gallery of Modern Art-Parikraman

Nandalal Bose

Architectural Design from Sketch Book No.6 10502 Nandalal Bose Pencil on paper

Nandalal closely studied the ancient mural traditions of the Ajanta in 1905. He also picked up the nuances of mural paintings from his visits to the Bagh caves to copy the deteriorating frescoes in 1921. Nandalal undertook extensive studies to comprehend the diversity in form, essence and treatment that was employed through the centuries by artisans and architects in the Indian classical art, the folk arts and temple architecture. His rich insights of the classical art practices allowed him to experiment and blend with ease and spontaneity the elements of each in an astonishingly free manner. This sketch is an apt example where the artist has made a visual record of an elaborately ornate doorjamb with multiple rows depicting geometric and floral patterns from the Bagh caves, as inscribed by the artist. The doorjamb also depicts the motif of 'makara', a mythical creature, seen in many Hindu temples as an ornamental motif often sculpted onto the richly carved pillars and brackets.