Jamini Roy (11 April 1887 – 24 April 1972) is one of the most celebrated Indian artists of the 20th century. Revered for reviving and modernising Indian folk art traditions, he created a distinct visual language that merged Bengal’s indigenous artistic heritage with modern sensibilities. Rejecting the dominance of European academic realism, Roy championed Indian identity in art, making him a pioneer of the Bengal School of Art and a key figure in India’s cultural renaissance during the struggle for independence.
His bold lines, flat colours, and simplified forms drew inspiration from rural Bengal’s Kalighat Pat paintings, traditional scroll art (patachitra), and ancient temple sculpture. At the same time, his subjects reflected both mythology and daily life, making his work accessible to all sections of society.
Today, Jamini Roy is celebrated not just for his paintings, but for his unwavering belief that Indian art must be rooted in its own soil.
Jamini Roy was born on 11 April 1887 in the village of Beliatore in Bankura district, West Bengal. His family belonged to the landed gentry and was culturally inclined.
At the age of 16, Roy moved to Calcutta (now Kolkata) to study at the Government College of Art, where he was trained in Western academic techniques under Abanindranath Tagore, the founder of the Bengal School of Art. Initially, Roy excelled at realistic oil painting and portraiture in the European style.
However, by the 1920s, Roy felt dissatisfied with this approach, sensing it did not truly express India’s spirit. This realisation marked a turning point in his career.
Roy began exploring India’s indigenous traditions, particularly the folk paintings of Bengal’s rural communities. He was deeply influenced by:
Roy abandoned oil paints and expensive materials, choosing instead natural pigments and homemade tempera on simple cloth or boards. His aim was to make art affordable and deeply Indian.
Jamini Roy’s style is instantly recognisable:
This style was not only aesthetically beautiful but also a form of cultural resistance against colonial art dominance.
Roy’s subjects were drawn from three major sources:
Jamini Roy’s dedication to Indian art earned him immense respect:
Jamini Roy believed that art should belong to the people. Unlike many artists who sold exclusively to wealthy patrons, Roy deliberately kept his prices low so middle-class families could own his work.
He saw his art as a cultural revival — a way to reconnect urban India with its rural and spiritual roots. His rejection of Western styles was both an artistic and a political statement during the nationalist movement.
Even as he grew famous, Roy lived simply, continuing to paint in his Kolkata home. His works became highly sought after by collectors, but he never abandoned his principle of accessibility.
Jamini Roy passed away on 24 April 1972 in Kolkata at the age of 85.
Jamini Roy’s art is more than visual beauty — it is a statement of identity, pride, and connection to one’s roots. By merging folk traditions with modern expression, he created a timeless style that continues to resonate across cultures.
In the words of many art historians, Roy did not just paint; he redefined what it meant to be an Indian artist in the modern world.
