Nandalal Bose

Nandalal Bose one of India's greatest teachers believed that art also included passing on to students an analytical insight into the syntactic structure and expressive possibilities of traditional practices. Coming at a time when under colonial intervention traditional practices were passing into oblivion among Indians this was of seminal importance. And his method of study being comparative it led to the exploration of affinities and differences not merely between varied practices within Indian art but in the entire region.

This cursory brusque drawing also gives expression to Bose's personality. Bose was an artist, designer, craftsperson, educator and curator all rolled into one. This led him to develop a personal language which functioned at many levels rather than an individual style that perhaps made an artist unique but also restricted his expressive and communicational range. And rather than impose his personality upon mediums he took advantage of the materials and their innate possibilities to communicate his vision. In a non traditional society he wanted each artist to acquire something of the adeptness and amplitude of traditions. The postcard speaks of age old traditions of hand drawn and written notes, and the importance of the posts and telegraphs department for communication all over India. Indeed this drawing is one of deep nostalgia.