Untitled

Nandalal Bose is one of the most significant Indian artists from the twentieth century, associated with the contextual modernism that was developed in Santiniketan, Bengal, where Rabindranath Tagore had established a university. Bose designed several postcards throughout his life that worked in the intimate register of personal diaries. So secure did he become with this habit that he even cut out his sketching papers into postcard sizes that he carried around with him. The subject-matter varied, although the animal world inspired a substantial number of them; not only did they charm and fascinate Bose, but they also held hidden messages for him about the simplicity and truths of life. In several postcards, he added a note—as he does in this work—which could be a cryptic line or aphorism, intended for the recipient. The small format holds proof of Bose’s compositional mastery and fine draughtsmanship. In many instances, words were sparingly used, allowing the visual element to take a central place in his ‘message’. He studied nature with the keenness and deep affection of a nature lover. This made him an enthusiastic observer of birds, insects, and other living-beings.