(2 November, 1907– 5 October, 1960)
Sailoz Mookherjea hailed from Kolkata in 1906, honoured with the title of 'National Art Treasure' by the Government of India and recognized one of the early modern artists who were good at simplify shapes, using strong lines, and showing movement with energy. Associated with the Bengal School of Art and influenced by the styles of Abanindranath Tagore and Nandalal Bose, also the French artist Henri Matisse.
After traveling around Europe, his work started showing the influence of Western art. When he returned to India, his style had changed significantly. He looked at life with great enthusiasm and exaggeration. His drawings often focused on folk art, using flat colours rather than detailed forms. The curved lines in his drawings added expression and movement, with attention to tonal gradation. Mookherjea's paintings were filled with light and a sense of movement, and he was known for his excellent use of colour. These qualities were especially noticeable in his landscapes. In his later years, he developed a style where the subject matter was less important, and colours blended freely without clear boundaries. His use of colour created a new complexity in his work, with extensive scribbling on the surfaces of his paintings.
Mookherjea's artworks often depicted Indian village life and landscapes, folk art, characterized by a lyrical and romantic style. He also famous for his use of light and dark colour tones and forms, blending Indian traditional techniques with modern sensibilities, colour palette often subdued, and worked in oils and watercolours washes. He was a highly influential teacher, taught at the Sarada Ukil School of Art in New Delhi, and later at Delhi Polytechnic and he trained future great artists like Ram Kumar and J. Swaminathan.
Sailoz Mookherjea passed away in 5 October, 1960.
