Jamini Roy, Painter
Painter

Jamini Roy

Born 11 April 1887 · West Bengal — Died 24 April 1972

Popularizing Bengal folk art style in modern Indian painting.

Jamini Roy was an Indian painter. He was honoured by the Government of India the award of Padma Bhushan in 1954. He remains one of the most famous pupils of Abanindranath Tagore, another praised Indian artist and instructor. Roy's highly simplified, flattened-out style, and reminiscent of European modern art was influenced by the “bazaar” paintings sold at Indian temples as talismans.

✨

A detail that
surprised us

“

Jamini Roy produced about 20,000 paintings in his lifetime, averaging nearly 10 paintings a day while adhering to a consistent folk-inspired style.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1908, Jamini Roy graduated from the Government College of Art in Kolkata, trained in Western academic realism under Abanindranath Tagore, yet soon rejected this style to embrace indigenous folk traditions.
2
Between 1921 and 1924, he radically shifted his style inspired by Santhal tribal dances and Kalighat pat paintings, pioneering a flattened, bold line style with organic tempera pigments.
3🖌️ By 1938, Roy held his first solo exhibition in Calcutta, marking his emergence as a leading artist whose work was embraced by both the Bengali middle class and European communities.
4In 1946, Roy exhibited in London, bringing Bengali folk art motifs to an international audience, a rare achievement for an Indian artist during colonial times.

🏅 Awards & Honours

1954
Padma Bhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

Jamini Roy sometimes called himself a 'patua', identifying closely with the folk artists who produced Kalighat pats, the popular temple souvenirs that inspired his style.

🖼️

Through the Years

1 photograph from the archives
Mother and Child, oil on canvas
Mother and Child, oil on canvas
1920

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Birth in Beliatore, Bankura
Jamini Roy was born into a moderately prosperous Kayastha family in West Bengal, setting roots in a culturally rich rural environment.
1887
📚
Education
Graduated Government College of Art, Kolkata
Received Diploma in Fine Art after training in Western academic style under Abanindranath Tagore.
1908
⚡
Career
Major solo exhibition in Calcutta
Exhibition organized by Indian Society of Oriental Art inaugurated by Bengal Chief Minister Fazlul Haq.
1937
⚡
Career
Solo exhibition at sculptor Kshitish Roy's studio
Further established his reputation in Calcutta’s art circles with distinctive folk-inspired works.
1938
⚡
Career
Exhibition in London
Displayed Bengali folk art style internationally, rare for an Indian artist at the time.
1946
🏅
Award
Awarded Padma Bhushan
Recognized by the Government of India for his contributions to Indian art and culture.
1954
🕊️
Death
Death in Calcutta
Passed away at age 85 after suffering from uremia.
1972
🌟
Other
Works declared national treasures
Archaeological Survey of India banned export of his art, preserving them as cultural heritage.
1976
More moments to come...
+ Add a moment

🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Roy's son Amiya frequently collaborated in his studio by filling in colors on Jamini’s initial outlines, a practice reminiscent of traditional Mughal and European master studios.

02 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

In 1978, six years after his death, the Government of India issued a commemorative postage stamp featuring Jamini Roy’s artwork, honoring his cultural legacy.

03 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

Jamini Roy largely avoided dating his artworks, choosing instead to focus on recurring folk themes like Baul singers, Santhal drummers, and religious iconography across decades.

“

"Peace is not good for an artist, Art is born of experience, of stress and strain, wrestling with problems, intellectual, and physical."

— Jamini Roy

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
The two talents of Bengal- Jamini Roy and Shantanu Moitra
·YouTube
More from this archive
The two talents of Bengal- Jamini Roy and Shantanu Moitra
01
The two talents of Bengal- Jamini Roy and Shantanu Moitra
YouTube
Sandip Sarkar on Jamini Roy
02
Sandip Sarkar on Jamini Roy
YouTube

🌱 What changed because of them

Jamini Roy redefined modern Indian art by rooting it firmly in Bengali folk traditions, challenging colonial art norms. His work influenced institutions like the Lalit Kala Akademi and Visva-Bharati University, and his paintings were legally protected as national treasures, ensuring preservation of indigenous art heritage. His approach inspired generations of artists to embrace local cultural expressions over Western academic influences.

💬 Social Buzz

💬

What are people saying about Jamini Roy?

Share posts from historians, journalists and notable voices about this icon. 🇮🇳

💭 Memories & Tributes

Share your memory of Jamini Roy...
Loading memories...
Is this profile accurate?