Regarded as the father of India’s modern art, Abanindranath was born at Jorasanko on 7th August, 1871. As a young man he came under the influence of Signor O. Gilhardi, Principal of the Calcutta school of Art and Charles Palmer, another noted artist. At the age of 20, he stumble upon an album of Mughal and Pahari miniatures and was greatly influenced by the fine decorative lines, vibrant colour and descriptive imagery.

He was inspired by Dr. E V Havell who strongly favored Indian art that would spring from deep-seated national sentiment. Abanindranath quickly matured as a painter absorbing ideas Abanindranath’s paintings were exhibited in London and Paris in 1913, followed by another international exhibition in Japan in 1919. His appreciative audience included Rodin and Rothenstein.

The influence of Abanindranath on modern Indian art is profound and under his guidance a new generation of painters- Nandalal Bose, Asit Halder, Kshitindranath Majumder and Jamini Roy - brought about a revival in Indian art.