The Story of Jamini Roy: India’s Padma Bhushan Winning Painter

Jamini Roy was a painter who earned fame and even accolades for himself in an era when art was not given as much respect as it is given today. So, how did Jamini Roy become one of the few handful painters to be remembered from the bygone era?  He was born in 1887 in West Bengal and joined the Government School of Art, Kolkata in 1903. Initially, he began with the Post-Impressionist genre of landscapes and portraits, his experimental side soon kicked in into his artistic nature and he made a complete switch to indigenous materials.

 

 

It was this realm of Jamini Roy into Bengali Folk paintings and his refusal to use European painting materials, which marked a new beginning in the Indian modern art history. Jamini Roy’s USP was his love towards Indian roots.

 

 

 

 

His most notable works include Ramayana, Dual Cats with one Crayfish, Bride and two Companions, Krishna and Balarama, Krishna and Radha Series and St. Ann and the Blessed Virgin.

 

 

His first recognition came in 1938, when his artworks became the first Indian paintings to be displayed at a British-ruled street in Calcutta. In following years, his works were exhibited at several prestigious shows at a global level. His most prominent awards include the Viceroy’s Gold Medal and the Padma Bhushan which he won in 1934 and 1954 respectively.