Art and History in Kolkata
Travel to India > Kolkata > Art and History in KolkataThe city of Kolkata has been known for its culture of appreciating artistic and literary heritage. Being the capital of British India, the city has witnessed the rise and fall of the British Empire along with upheaval of the sense of nationalism and the growth of a creative fervor among the youths of Bengal.
The documented history of Calcutta begins with the arrival of the British in the year 1690. The city came into existence when Job Charnock, an administrator official of the East India Company settled in Sutanuti. The Company was then aiming to consolidate the trade and business in Bengal. In order to make their trade holdings strong in India, the British constructed the Fort William where they developed a strong military base. With the construction of the Fort William the city was declared as a Presidency city. Gradually the swamps surrounding the city were filled up for the construction of concrete government offices and the city popularly came to be known as the 'city of palaces'. Richard Wellesley is credited for designing the architectural plans of the city.
Though the British always maintained their status of hierarchy even while settling in the city for years, a merge of European and India culture occurred at that time and resulted the emergence of a new class of urban Indians. This section of the society was introduced to the English education and was involved in nurturing the intellectual bent of mind. This was the era when there was a tremendous upheaval of the art of music, painting, sculpture, writing and theatre. Various social-cultural reforms also occurred at that time and Calcutta soon became the base of revolutionary activities in order to claim the independence of India.
The present day Kolkata still holds the tradition of promoting art and culture as well as welcoming new genres of modern art. Even though much of the cultural tradition of the city is influenced by the artistic sensibility of the great Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, the city also houses art works of innumerable talented artists in Kolkata. The art and history in Kolkata will give you an unending list of authors, scholars, reformers, painters and actors who have left a mark of excellence in almost every sphere of art.
The art of literature includes a long band of names like the Rabindranath Tagore to recent literary personages like Ashapoorna Devi, Buddhadev Bose, Jibanananda Das and Sunil Gangopadhyay.
Some famous personalities who have contributed to the art and history in Kolkata include personalities like the Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Ganesh Pyne, Thankappan Kutty, Chintamoni Kar.
Two very prominent school of art is developed in Bengal, one is the Art of Bengal School and the other is the Kalighat Patachitra.
The following are some of the centers of art and culture located in Kolkata.
- The Academy of Fine Arts
- Birla Academy of Art and Culture
- Ashutosh Museum of Indian Art
- Abanindranath Tagore Gallery
- Chitrakoot Art Gallery
- Centre of International Modern Art Gallery
- Galerie 88
- Gallery BF
- Galerie La Mer
