Bapuji

Bapuji

Bapuji

Ramendranath Chakravorty

Bapuji

year

Early 20th century

size

8.2 x 7.2 in. / 20.8 x 18.3 cm.

medium

Wood engraving on paper

In the early decades of the twentieth century, a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi would have been a subject difficult to ignore by artists. Those decades belonged to the architect of India’s freedom, fondly addressed by the people as ‘Bapu’ (Father), also alluded to in the title by the artist, with the denominator of additional respect—ji. This wood engraving comes from the late Thirties or Forties, given the advanced age in which Gandhi is depicted. Chakravorty, who had trained in wood engraving under Eric Gill in London, captures the gravitas of the Mahatma’s face with dense lines in this powerful profile.

published references

Singh, Kishore, ed., The Art of Bengal (New Delhi: DAG, 2012), p. 169
Sengupta, Paula, The Printed Picture: Four Centuries of Indian Printmaking, Volume II (New Delhi: DAG, 2012), p. 111
Singh, Kishore, ed., Indian Portraits: The Face of a People (New Delhi: DAG, 2013), p. 158

Bapuji
Bapuji
More Information
Art Artist Names Single Ramendranath Chakravorty

additional artworks