6.3 Revivalism and nationalism

Revivalism emerged in late 19th century India as artists sought to reassert traditional art forms amid growing Western influence. This movement was closely tied to India's cultural and political awakening, as people resisted British rule and asserted their national identity.

Key figures like Raja Ravi Varma and Abanindranath Tagore pioneered revivalist styles, blending Indian themes with both Western and traditional techniques. Their work celebrated Indian mythology, history, and rural life, becoming powerful symbols of cultural nationalism and anti-colonial resistance.

Origins of revivalism

• Revivalism emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a response to the growing influence of Western art and culture in India
• Revivalists sought to reassert the value and importance of traditional Indian art forms and styles, which they believed were being overshadowed by Western aesthetics
• The movement was closely tied to the broader cultural and political awakening of India during this period, as Indians sought to assert their national identity and resist British colonial rule

British influence on revivalism

Top images from around the web for British influence on revivalism

• 

  Colonial India - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonialism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonial India - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonialism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

Top images from around the web for British influence on revivalism

• 

  Colonial India - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonialism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonial India - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

• 

  Colonialism - Wikipedia View original

  Is this image relevant?

1 of 2

• The British colonial presence in India had a significant impact on the development of revivalism
• British art schools and institutions, such as the Government School of Art in Calcutta, introduced Western artistic techniques and styles to Indian artists
• However, many Indian artists and intellectuals began to reject the wholesale adoption of Western aesthetics and instead advocated for a return to traditional Indian art forms and styles

Intellectual foundations of revivalism

• Revivalism was heavily influenced by the ideas of Indian intellectuals and cultural figures, such as Ananda Coomaraswamy and Sister Nivedita
• These thinkers argued that traditional Indian art was deeply connected to Indian spirituality, philosophy, and cultural identity
• They believed that reviving traditional art forms was essential for preserving and promoting Indian cultural heritage in the face of Western cultural hegemony

Key figures in revivalism

• Several prominent artists and cultural figures played a key role in the development and spread of revivalism in India
• These individuals helped to establish revivalism as a major artistic movement and influenced the direction of Indian art in the early 20th century

Raja Ravi Varma

• Raja Ravi Varma was a pioneering Indian painter who blended Western techniques with traditional Indian themes and subjects
• He is known for his highly realistic and idealized depictions of Hindu gods and goddesses, as well as scenes from Indian mythology and history
• Varma's work helped to popularize the use of oil painting in India and paved the way for later revivalist artists

Abanindranath Tagore

• Abanindranath Tagore was a Bengali artist and intellectual who is often considered the father of the Neo-Bengal school of art
• He rejected the use of Western techniques and instead sought to revive traditional Indian painting styles, such as the Mughal and Rajput miniature traditions
• Tagore's work often depicted scenes from Indian mythology and literature, as well as landscapes and village scenes

Nandalal Bose

• Nandalal Bose was a student of Abanindranath Tagore and became one of the most prominent figures in the revivalist movement
• He played a key role in establishing the Kala Bhavana art school in Santiniketan, which became a major center of revivalist art education
• Bose's work often depicted scenes from Indian village life and celebrated the beauty and simplicity of rural India

Revivalist art styles

• Revivalism encompassed a wide range of artistic styles and techniques, each of which sought to revive and reinterpret traditional Indian art forms
• These styles often blended elements of traditional Indian painting, sculpture, and architecture with modern techniques and sensibilities

Neo-Bengal school

• The Neo-Bengal school, founded by Abanindranath Tagore, was one of the most influential revivalist art styles
• It sought to revive the delicate, lyrical qualities of traditional Bengali painting, particularly the Mughal and Rajput miniature traditions
• Neo-Bengal artists often used watercolors and tempera to create highly stylized, decorative compositions with flat color planes and intricate detailing

Bombay Revivalists

• The Bombay Revivalists were a group of artists based in Bombay (now Mumbai) who sought to revive traditional Indian painting styles
• They were heavily influenced by the work of Raja Ravi Varma and often depicted scenes from Indian mythology and history
• Bombay Revivalist artists, such as M.V. Dhurandhar and Pestonji Bomanji, often used oil paints to create highly realistic, idealized compositions

South Indian revivalism

• Revivalism also had a significant impact on the art of South India, particularly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala
• South Indian revivalist artists, such as S. Rajam and K. Madhava Menon, sought to revive traditional South Indian painting styles, such as the Tanjore and Mysore schools
• These artists often depicted scenes from South Indian mythology and literature, as well as landscapes and portraits of South Indian cultural figures

Themes in revivalist art

• Revivalist art often explored a range of themes and subjects drawn from Indian history, mythology, literature, and everyday life
• These themes reflected the cultural and nationalist concerns of the revivalist movement and sought to assert the value and importance of Indian cultural heritage

Mythological and religious themes

• Many revivalist artists drew inspiration from Hindu mythology and religious texts, such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata
• They often depicted scenes from the lives of Hindu gods and goddesses, such as Krishna, Rama, and Durga
• These works celebrated the richness and beauty of Hindu religious traditions and sought to assert their continued relevance in modern India

Historical and literary themes

• Revivalist artists also frequently depicted scenes from Indian history and literature, particularly from the Mughal and Rajput periods
• These works often celebrated the achievements of great Indian rulers and cultural figures, such as Akbar and Shivaji
• They also drew inspiration from classic works of Indian literature, such as the poetry of Kalidasa and the stories of the Panchatantra

Landscapes and village scenes

• Many revivalist artists, particularly those associated with the Neo-Bengal school, were drawn to the beauty and simplicity of Indian rural life
• They often depicted idyllic village scenes, with lush landscapes, peaceful rivers, and humble peasants going about their daily lives
• These works celebrated the timeless rhythms of Indian rural existence and sought to assert the value of traditional Indian ways of life in the face of modernization and Westernization

Revivalism and Indian identity

• Revivalism was closely tied to the broader cultural and political awakening of India in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• The movement sought to assert the value and importance of Indian cultural heritage in the face of British colonial rule and Western cultural hegemony

Revivalism as cultural nationalism

• For many revivalist artists and intellectuals, the revival of traditional Indian art forms was a way of asserting Indian cultural identity and pride
• They saw the preservation and promotion of Indian art as a key component of the broader struggle for Indian independence and self-determination
• Revivalist art thus became a powerful symbol of Indian cultural nationalism and resistance to British colonial rule

Revivalism vs Westernization

• Revivalism emerged in part as a reaction against the growing influence of Western art and culture in India
• Many revivalist artists and intellectuals rejected the wholesale adoption of Western artistic techniques and styles, which they saw as a form of cultural imperialism
• Instead, they advocated for a return to traditional Indian art forms and aesthetics, which they believed were more authentic expressions of Indian cultural identity

Revivalism and anti-colonial resistance

• Revivalism was also closely tied to the broader anti-colonial resistance movement in India
• Many revivalist artists and intellectuals saw their work as a form of cultural resistance against British rule and a way of asserting Indian autonomy and self-determination
• Revivalist art thus became a powerful tool for mobilizing Indian public opinion against British colonialism and inspiring a sense of national pride and unity

Legacy of revivalism

• Revivalism had a profound impact on the development of modern Indian art and continues to shape contemporary artistic discourse and practice in India
• The movement's emphasis on traditional Indian aesthetics and cultural identity has had a lasting influence on Indian art education and criticism

Influence on modern Indian art

• Many of the leading figures of modern Indian art, such as Nandalal Bose and Jamini Roy, were deeply influenced by the revivalist movement
• They continued to draw inspiration from traditional Indian art forms and techniques, even as they experimented with new styles and subjects
• The revivalist emphasis on cultural nationalism and the celebration of Indian identity also had a lasting impact on the development of modern Indian art

Critiques of revivalism

• Despite its significant influence, revivalism has also been the subject of criticism and debate within Indian art circles
• Some critics have argued that the movement's emphasis on tradition and cultural purity led to a narrow and essentialist view of Indian art and identity
• Others have criticized revivalism for its lack of engagement with contemporary social and political issues and its tendency towards nostalgia and idealization of the past

Revivalism in contemporary discourse

• Despite these critiques, revivalism continues to be an important reference point in contemporary Indian art discourse
• Many contemporary Indian artists continue to draw inspiration from traditional Indian art forms and techniques, even as they engage with new media and global artistic trends
• The legacy of revivalism can also be seen in the ongoing debates around cultural identity, nationalism, and the role of art in shaping public consciousness in India