Untitled (The Artist's Studio, Jorasanko)

This drawing by Nandalal Bose is a wonderful document that records the ambience of the creative space in the Tagore house of Jorasanko, when it was the one of the most significant centres of cultural activity in the subcontinent. The sketch shows the three Tagore brothers, Gaganendranath, Abanindranath and Samarendranath relaxing in the background, while renowned art-critic and historian, A. K. Coomaraswamy, and the artist are engaged in conversation in the foreground. The artist has inserted himself into the image as a participant observer of the scene. The names of people in the Tagore study are inscribed in ink, in what seems to be Abanindranath Tagore’s handwriting.