Moni Sanyal

Moni Sanyal was born in the early part of the 20th century and is credited to be among the artists who greatly contributed to the revival of Indian art. As a child, he made imitative clay idols of Durga, Kali and Saraswati that fascinated him and the potter’s process of creating them had a profound effect on him. His family was not in support of an artistic training. However, his talent was recognized through scholarship programs and thus, his formal initiation into art began at the Indian Society of Oriental Art School. He graduated from Government School of Art in Calcutta and in 1932 he passed with special merit at the Royal Drawing Society, London.

From 1932-1937, he was in contact with artist Atul Bose and this helped him to establish his own style. Throughout his life, the acclaimed artist travelled across the country and studied the diversity of Indian culture in its totality. His works contain a sense of indigenous rawness that is able to communicate with the audience at an emotional level. Along with portraitures, he also masterfully captured the everyday life of people, the subject matter of his depictions focused on the proletarians. The style of Bengal School is evident in his paintings with strong influence of Abanindranath Tagore and Jamini Roy.  He was also closely associated with British artist and adapted certain techniques of western art such as shapely lines with short strokes. 

In 1949, his works were highly praised and well received at his solo exhibition. Sanyal’s works from the 1950’s has influence of ancient Indian art of Ajanta with its earthy tones and fine lines based on sculpture traditions.