Jamini Roy

Jamini Roy (1887–1972) was a pioneering Indian painter known for transforming traditional Bengali folk art into a distinctive modern visual language. Trained at the Government College of Art, Kolkata, he initially worked in the academic tradition of Western-style portraits and landscapes before turning toward India’s indigenous artistic heritage. Deeply influenced by Kalighat painting and the traditions of rural and tribal Bengal, Roy developed a simplified style characterized by bold contours, flattened forms, expressive figures, and earthy colours. He often used indigenous materials such as lamp black, organic tempera, and natural pigments. His work gained wide recognition in India and internationally, with exhibitions in London and New York. In 1954, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.