Jamini Roy
Painter who drew on Bengali folk art
- Lived
- 85 yrs
- 1887 – 1972
- Works listed
- 3
- Painting
- Honours
- 1
- Most recent 1955
- Profile views
- 2
- 0 followers
Jamini Roy was a Bengali painter who abandoned European academic painting to create a bold, simplified style inspired by village folk art. His paintings of mothers and children, Santhal women and gods made him one of the most popular modern Indian artists. He died in 1972.
Biography
Academic beginnings
Jamini Roy grew up in a village in Bankura district and studied at the Government School of Art in Calcutta, where he learnt the European academic style of oil portraits and landscapes. He worked successfully as a portrait painter.
Turning to folk art
Around the 1920s he became dissatisfied with copying Western art and began to study the Kalighat pat paintings sold near the Kali temple in Calcutta and the folk art of his native villages. He developed a style of strong outlines, flat colour and stylised figures.
Indian materials
Roy rejected expensive imported materials and made his own colours from earth, chalk, lamp-black and vegetable dyes, painting on cloth, mats and handmade paper. He ran his studio almost like a workshop, producing many versions of popular themes so that ordinary people could afford them.
Recognition
His work was exhibited in London in 1946 and New York in 1953 and admired by collectors and writers. He received the Padma Bhushan in 1955 and was the first Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi. He died in Calcutta on 24 April 1972; his paintings are classed as national art treasures.
Timeline
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1887
Born in Beliatore, Bankura district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal)
-
1916
Graduates from the Government School of Art
-
1938
First major exhibition in Calcutta
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1955
Padma Bhushan; first Fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi
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1972
Dies in Calcutta
-
1972
Died, aged 85
Notable works
-
—
Mother and Child Painting
Recurring theme.
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—
Santhal Girl Painting
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—
Krishna and Balarama Painting
Awards and honours
-
Padma Bhushan
1955
Did you know?
-
1
He made his own paints from earth and vegetable dyes.
-
2
He deliberately kept prices low so ordinary people could buy his work.
-
3
His works are classed as national art treasures.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Jamini Roy?
Jamini Roy was a Bengali painter who abandoned European academic painting to create a bold, simplified style inspired by village folk art. His paintings of mothers and children, Santhal women and gods made him one of the most popular modern Indian artists. He died in 1972.
When did Jamini Roy die?
Jamini Roy died on 24 April 1972 at the age of 85.
Where is Jamini Roy from?
Jamini Roy was born in Beliatore, Bankura district, Bengal Presidency (now West Bengal).
What is Jamini Roy known for?
Jamini Roy is best known for Paintings inspired by Kalighat pat and Bengali folk traditions.
What awards has Jamini Roy received?
Notable honours include Padma Bhushan (1955).
References
- Jamini Roy — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Jamini Roy — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Jamini Roy — Invaluable artist page. Invaluable. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Jamini Roy — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Jamini Roy (Q3595454) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Jamini Roy”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Jamini Roy.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/jamini-roy
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