Rabindranath Tagore, who wrote the Indian National Anthem and received the Nobel Prize in Literature, was a multifaceted individual in every way. He was a Bengali poet, philosopher of the Brahmo Samaj, visual artist, dramatist, writer, painter, and musician. He was also a cultural reformer who resisted the constraints that kept Bengali art within the realm of ancient Indian styles. Despite being a polymath, his literary achievements alone are enough to position him among the all-time greats. Even today, Rabindranath Tagore is recognised for his spiritual and mercurial poetry lyrics. He was one of those brilliant minds who was ahead of his time, which is why his encounter with Albert Einstein is seen as a battle of science and spirituality. Tagore was eager to propagate his ideals across the globe, so he went on a global tour, teaching in nations like as Japan and the United States. His works were soon praised by people from all over the world, and he became the first non-European to receive the Nobel Prize. Apart from Jana Gana Mana (India's National Anthem), his composition 'Amar Shonar Bangla' was selected as the National Anthem of Bangladesh, and one of his compositions inspired the National Anthem of Sri Lanka.
Establishment and Shantiniketan
Rabindranath's father had purchased a large plot of land at Santiniketan. In 1901, he relocated to Santiniketan and established an ashram with the intention of creating an experimental school on his father's land. It was called 'The Mandir,' and it was a prayer hall with marble floors. Classes were conducted beneath trees and followed the traditional Guru-Shishya teaching technique. Rabindranath Tagore felt that resurrecting this archaic technique of teaching would be more useful than the current approach. Unfortunately, his wife and two of his children died during their time at Santiniketan, which devastated Rabindranath. In the meanwhile, his writings were more famous among both Bengali and international readers. This earned him worldwide acclaim, and in 1913, Rabindranath Tagore was given the renowned Nobel Prize in Literature, becoming Asia's first Nobel laureate.
Rabindranath Tagore – The Artist
Rabindranath Tagore began sketching and painting at the age of sixty. His works were shown in exhibits around Europe. Tagore's style was distinct in terms of aesthetics and colour schemes, distinguishing it from those of other painters. He was also inspired by the Malanggan tribe of northern New Ireland's craftwork. He was also inspired by Haida sculptures from Canada's west coast and Max Pechstein's woodcuts. Tagore's artworks may be seen in the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
Art Features:
Animals and Composite
Tagore's creative journey started with drawings. Crossed-out lines and phrases would acquire unexpected and unintended forms, frequently inspired by recollections of art and things he saw in museums and books. Most of them were animals, but not the ones we know; rather, he defined them as "a plausible animal that had unaccountably lost its chance of existence" or "a bird that can only fly in our imaginations." His creations blended the familiar with the new, fueled by an innovative energy. You may observe the projection of a real animal's motions onto an imagined body, or a human gesture portrayed via the body of an animal.
Landscape
Landscapes are Tagore's lowest artistic output. Tagore regarded the visible world around him "as a great parade of shapes" after discovering his passion for painting. He used to spend hours as a youngster looking out his window at the many shapes of nature. His quiet chats with nature provided him with a feeling of connection and comfort. He got up early every morning, before daybreak, to view the sky enveloped in morning twilight. Tagore's landscape paintings are the result of this inner passion. The majority of his landscapes depicted nature drenched in dusk light, with sky and shapes coagulating into frightening shadows. His landscapes evoke mystery, uneasiness, and quietness.
Dramatic Figures and Scene
Tagore did not label his paintings, but by doing so, he emancipated them from the constraints of literary imagination. He wanted his audience to see the paintings in their own light and appreciate them in their own manner. This part of his paintings was heavily inspired by his theatrical and playwriting expertise. The animations, costumes, furnishings, and colors utilized do not depict ordinary activities, but rather are embellished with a theatrical theme. When seen in a group, these paintings resemble silent drama.
Human Faces and Characters
The human face is a recurring theme in his creative works, indicating his enduring fascination with human identity. Tagore, as a writer, associated human appearance with emotions and substance. As a painter, he had a comparable chance. His painted features convey a wealth of human experience and inherent human emotion. His expressions convey a range of emotions: mysterious, brooding, dramatic, and romantic; amazement, terror, and melancholia. The majority of the ladies he painted are depicted with their hands and bodies hidden behind the folds of their flowing veils or saris, symbolizing the secret lives of Bengali women at the period. Their sorrowful eyes and the dark shadows behind their features indicate an inability to express oneself.
Scripts by Rabindranath Tagore
Tagore composed a number of plays on Indian mythology and modern societal challenges. He started acting in plays with his brother when he was just a teenager. He not only wrote the drama 'Valmiki Pratibha' when he was 20 years old, but he also performed the main role. The play was based on the famous dacoit Valmiki, who eventually reforms and writes one of India's two epics, Ramayana.
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