Celebrating Rabindranath Tagore: A Legacy of Art and Literature
On May 7, we commemorate the 165th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941). While the official observance occurs today, in West Bengal, Rabindra Jayanti is celebrated according to the Bengali calendar on the 25th day of Boishakh, which this year is on May 9. Tagore was a multifaceted genius—renowned as a poet, philosopher, novelist, musician, and artist. He is best known for penning India's National Anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana', and for receiving the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his exquisite poetry in Gitanjali
Tagore's artistic contributions are equally noteworthy. He began painting later in life, at the age of 67, showcasing his remarkable talent. He famously remarked, 'We who have traded in lyrics should know that these will not find acceptance at another time. This is inevitable. So I often think that only painting has a deathless quality.' He also expressed, 'Now in the evening of my life, my mind is filled with forms and colours.'
K. C. Chitrabhanu noted that Tagore often referred to his art as ‘Sesh boisher priya’ (an affair in the evening of life). His artistic prowess earned him the distinction of being one of nine painters recognized as Indian National Art Treasures, indicating the cultural significance of his work, which cannot be exported. Lacking formal training, he began his artistic journey by doodling in notebooks, evolving these sketches into intricate abstract forms, often depicting birds and animals. He candidly admitted to being 'partly colour-blind', which influenced his frequent use of brown tones.
Tagore's paintings marked a departure from traditional Indian styles and the Bengal School, which was initiated by his nephew Abanindranath Tagore. His work was influenced by various artists, including Wassily Kandinsky and Paul Klee, and reflected the impact of Freudian psychoanalysis. His art often depicted deeply anguished, distorted faces that seemed to explore their own inner depths, as noted by DAG.
In the West, Tagore was celebrated as a literary icon, frequently traveling to Europe and America. His flowing robes and white beard gave him a sage-like presence. Jacob Epstein, who created a notable bust of him in 1926, remarked that Tagore 'carried no money and was conducted about like a holy man'. However, to support his travels, he exhibited some of his paintings in Europe, including at the Galerie Pigalle in Paris in 1930, where they garnered significant attention from critics and collectors.
Five of Tagore's artworks were gifted to a prominent museum in Berlin in 1930, but were later removed by the Nazi regime, which deemed them 'degenerate'. According to BBC's Soutik Biswas, Hitler, a failed artist, considered modern art as 'evidence of a deranged mind' and ordered the removal of over 16,000 artworks from German museums.
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Damian Vesey, a specialist in South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, remarked that in Europe, Tagore's paintings were perceived as the works of a guru and mystic. He noted the challenge in categorizing them as either Indian or modern art, suggesting that while they were undoubtedly modern, their identity was also tied to Tagore's Indian heritage, embodying an 'exotic India' appeal.
Throughout his lifetime, Tagore created over 2,000 artworks, often using unconventional tools like rags or his fingers on canvas. Recently, his 1937 masterpiece From Across the Dark sold for ₹10.73 crore at AstaGuru’s 'Historic Masterpieces' auction.