Ganesh Pyne

Ganesh Pyne (1937-2013) traced his early influences to his grandmother’s folk tales and Abanindranath Tagore’s stories and illustrations for children. The gruesome violence which attended the Partition of India, including The Great Calcutta Killing of 1946, left a permanent effect on Pyne’s creative personality, revealing itself in the premonitions of death and destruction visible on his canvas. Pyne was a multi-faceted artist, always honing his skill in standardized art practice as well as adapting technology for his personal idiom. He dabbled in animation and print media, not just to make a living but also to widen his horizon of the visual study of art.

This illustrated volume presents a rich, expansive study of Pyne’s creative career, including previously unseen work made while the artist was a young man. Through sensitive essays, the author also brings to fore the shy reticence of the artist himself, who nevertheless took a great interest in Calcutta’s artistic milieu, becoming a member of the Society of Contemporary Artists. This volume hopes to reveal the intensity of Pyne’s engagement with the world around him and his urgent voice capturing the apprehensions and ideals of a country on the brink of both disaster and freedom. Published in association with Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, and Akar Prakar, Kolkata.