In the garden

Binode Behari Mukherjee (1904-1980) was a prominent Indian modern artist associated with Santiniketan’s Contextual Modernism. Mukherjee was born blind, and his studies at the Vishva-Bharati College under Nandalal Bose introduced him to Japanese calligraphy, Chinese scroll paintings, Indian traditional murals, and European modernist movements. Each of these stylistic trends is combined in the artist’s unique way that focuses on nature, everyday life, and architecture. The artist’s most remarkable works are his murals, including those made in his own village, while his practice of painting continued even when he lost his eyesight in 1957. His 1948 tempera on silk painting ‘In the Garden ’ is a fine example of the artist’s approach to painting, which was fully formed by the 1950s. This artwork is made with a calligraphic simplicity of line and a gentle blending of muted earth tones. It is an excellent demonstration of Mukherjee’s approach to nature as sentient substance rather than an object of observation. The fabric of the silk appears to be a critical element of this work since it makes paint more delicate and translucent, which results in a more profound interaction between the painted image and the background. This artwork is a reflection of the surrounding nature in which the artist lived most of his life. The painting is made in such a way that emphasises the sense of space even with the absence of hard shadows. Thus, it is a harmonious blend of gentle lines and strokes that form a precise structure that resembles Indian temple architecture. The artist’s skill and understanding are evident in this work as he masterfully captures the alternation of shadows and lighting, creating a sense of openness and space. In the Garden convincingly demonstrates Binode Behari Mukherjee’s approach to painting as a way to represent natural landscapes with their spirituality, captured in every stroke.