23/05/1911 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Abanindranath Tagore (1871 - 1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style within British and international art institutions.
The artist studied Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida and assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera.
The print illustrates the Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). The artist has depicted this traditional subject in a highly romanticised style. Abanindranath dedicated the print to orientalist scholar Ernest Binfield Havell, the principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta from 1896-1905. The inscription reads: "To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta.
The artist studied Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida and assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera.
The print illustrates the Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). The artist has depicted this traditional subject in a highly romanticised style. Abanindranath dedicated the print to orientalist scholar Ernest Binfield Havell, the principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta from 1896-1905. The inscription reads: "To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Print; reproduction of a watercolour |
| Brief description | Painting reproduction, illustration to Rubaiyat of Omar Khayam, by Abanindranath Tagore, reproduction of a watercolour on paper, Kolkata, 23 May 1911 |
| Physical description | Reproduction of a watercolour, the print illustrates the Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). On front and reverse is a printed label quoting Quatrain XLVI. |
| Dimensions |
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| Content description | The Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Lady Sonia Wilson, daughter of E.B. Havell |
| Object history | On the reverse the artist's inscription to Havell reads: "To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta Given by Lady Sonia Wilson, daughter of E.B. Havell. RF: 51/3488 |
| Historical context | Abanindranath Tagore (1871 - 1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style within British and international art institutions. In his work, Abanindranath retrieved themes from the Indian epic past or scenes from romantic tales, such as Arabian Nights or Omar Khaiyam and reworked them in a highly romanticised style. The artist’s desire to emancipate Indian art from European influence was also fostered by Japanese artist Okakura Kakuzo, who visited him in 1902. Later, studying Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida, Abanindranath assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera. |
| Summary | Abanindranath Tagore (1871 - 1951) was the pioneer and leading exponent of the Bengal School of Art. In his paintings, he sought to counter the influence of Western art as taught in art schools under the British Raj, by modernizing indigenous Moghul and Rajput traditions. His work became so influential that it was eventually accepted and regarded as a national Indian style within British and international art institutions. The artist studied Japanese art under Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida and assimilated Far Eastern techniques such as the wash into his work. His Omar Khaiyam series (1906-08) reflects such influences. Abanindranath’s use of colour was also highly personalized and found its appropriate language in two major techniques: wash and tempera. The print illustrates the Rubaiyat of Omar Khaiyam, a Persian poet, mathematician and astronomer (1048–1131). The artist has depicted this traditional subject in a highly romanticised style. Abanindranath dedicated the print to orientalist scholar Ernest Binfield Havell, the principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta from 1896-1905. The inscription reads: "To my guru H.B. Havell'' May 23, 1911, Calcutta. |
| Bibliographic reference | Dr Ratan Parimoo, The paintings of the three great Tagores: Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore and Rabindranath Tagore. Chronology and comparative studies, 1973 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | IS.307-1951 |
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| Record created | January 22, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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