JAMINI ROY (1887-1972)

"Jamini Roy, who found his motifs in folk toys and in ritual art, introduced primitivism into Indian painting. He brought in a Byzantine sensibility and expressionistic traits are again prominent. There is a stress on design, on the vitality of the line, and on brilliant colors cleverly and daringly juxtaposed. Religious themes, Indian and Christian, feature in Jamini Roy's art. At his best in the linear compositions which are reminiscent of the grouping and the stresses of sculptural friezes, his art has a simple vitality that is impressive and refreshing." (R. Bartholomew, 'Contemporary Indian Painting', Modern Art of Asia, Tokyo, 1961, unpaginated)