From doodles to toast of Europe
Rabindranath¿s stride in the world of fine arts
Fayza Haq
Rabindranath Tagore is India's first modern painter. In his songs, drama, fiction and other creative work, he has always upheld the heritage of the subcontinent. Yet in painting he did not follow traditions. What he painted was entirely his own style and vision," says Qayyum Chowdhury. "He based his paintings on lines, following the oriental style. In this way alone he has kept up with traditions. His work depended on treatment of form and space." Tagore took to painting in the latter stage of his life, when he was done with expressing himself in profusion in so many other creative forms, says Qayyum."Drawing and painting were novelties for Tagore at the last stage of his life. Of course, in the meantime, he supported his nephew Abanindranath's paintings of the Bengal School, says Qayyum, and he specially encouraged the paintings on Indian mythology. On visiting Japan, Tagore realised that paintings could not be established on literary values. Painting itself has a different language. He sent Japanese artist Oka Kura to India to guide the artists there. He began painting himself. This was after he had done a lot of doodling while writing. From the scratching and cutting during his writings arose an exciting form of art," Qayyum says. One finds birds, animals, tree branches in the doodles done with pen and ink. "I had the opportunity to examine some of his paintings at Shaniketan. The colours are applied in such a manner that they are fresh and exciting even today. When he had exhibitions of his work in England, France and Germany, they were greatly appreciated. However, unfortunately, back home in India, his paintings were not much admired by critiques or artists. This was around 1910. In his paintings he has created a world of his own, with birds, animal figures and humans. They resemble Kalighat Pat paintings in some ways, specially the faces but his style was with fine lines. Yet, if we study art, it is Rabindranath Tagore who first represents modern Indian art overseas. "As a creative artist, Tagore visualised pictures in colours and lines. In his songs and poetry we find pictures of nature in the different seasons. These were much more exciting than his pictorial work in lines and paints. Some critiques say that he could not even draw a matchbox correctly, so limited was his knowledge of perspectives. However, when a creative man sees a matchbox, he sees it as an image of his own perception. In his doodles are birds and animals that you sometimes cannot find on the planet. They are creatures of his own imagination. His urge for painting was purely his own. He was a self-taught artist. His family engaged teachers to assist in write poetry and compose music and he was even taught wrestling," says Qayyum. "But painting was something he developed on his own although he came from a family where the men painted portraits etc." Even in the world of paints and colours, Tagore remains unique.
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