(1896-1970)
Vasudeo Hiralal Panya was born in Lunawada, Gujarat, 1896. After finishing school, he became a teacher in his village. Later, he moved to Bombay and lived in a chawl in the Tardeo district. He met a European man who was impressed with his handwriting and recruited him as a document copier for his company. At the European firm, goods often came wrapped in prints of Renaissance artists. These prints fascinated Pandya, and he began to adopt the perspectives and colour inspirations from these paintings. Drawing was Pandya's hobby, and he was an amateur painter. His first work was an oil painting of a standing portrait of a four-handed Hindu deity, Shree Vishnu, the preserver of in the Hindu Trinity of Gods - Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
Oleographs hold a special place in the realm of art, offering vibrant and intricate reproductions of original paintings. Pandya ventured into the world of oleography to preserve his creations. Throughout in his career, he created many artworks and Lord Krishna was specially shown in his works. His artworks are standing unique style. Encouraged by a Parsi man, he went to Germany to print his paintings as oleographs. Even though WWII caused many losses, Pandya’s detailed artworks remain a lasting legacy. His paintings printed just like the renowned artist Raja Ravi Varma. During that period Raja Ravi Varma had already travelled to Germany to print lithographs.
Pandya business collapsed overnight. He moved to Ahmedabad with his family, sold his big palace house, and lived in a rental home. Slowly, he started painting again. Later, he was commissioned by the Swami Narayan Temples to paint murals, especially in South Africa and England.
Vasudeo Hiralal Panya passed away in 1970.
