Biography of  Abanindranath Tagore

(1871 - 1951)

Abanindranath Tagore's name figures among the greatest artists India has ever produced. He learnt painting at a very early age. He was famous for painting landscapes based on the western style. He was born in 1871 as the great grandson of Dwarkanath Tagore.

In 1895, he produced a collection of paintings on "Krishnalila' in which he synthesised the Indian and Western styles. In 1898, he was appointed as the Vice-Principal of the Art School, Kolkata. He studied the Rajput, Mughal, Japanese styles of painting extensively, and gradually evolved his own unique style. In 1907, he founded the Indian School of Oriental Art and used to organise exhibitions of his paintings every year. In 1913, his painting exhibition was organised in Paris. His paintings were also exhibited in Brussels and London.

Tagore also distinguished himself as a writer and wrote nearly 30 books. The sole idea of all the books was individual freedom. He died in 1951.