Against the background of over 5,000 years of Indian artistc tradition, the history of contempory Indian art may seem but a fraction. Nonetheless, its development is spectacular despite many vicissitudes. It is generally accepted that the image of contemporary Indian art has substantial acquired its characteristics during the post ?Independence period, although one may trace its origin to the earlier years of the century against the chequered backdrop of Abanindranath Tagore and the Indian renaissance, Ravi Verma and his like-the academic realists in the Western manner-and the Company School which filled the scene following the decline of the Indian miniature tradition. Contemporary Indian art is distinguished by a plurality of expression that may baffle one initially but will sort itself out with familiarity and careful study. Basically, the contemporary Indian artist shares the tremendous spirit of adventure and freedom of artistic expression with his counterparts the world over and with this an eclectic approach to technical problems and the high degree of individualism which is perhaps the most significant gift of the modern age.

The pioneers such as Rabindranah Tagore, Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, and Amrita Sher Gil are already legend. Those who have come after them and who have made a significant contribution are not numerous, but quite substantial. The search and experiment is still on. And there is more than a sign of the coming of age of the contemporary artist. RABINDRANATH TAGORE (1861-1941) Rabindranath Tagore was sixty-seven years of age when he started painting in 1928. between then and 1941 he produced some 2000 paintings. The National Gallery of Modern Art has devoted a special section to his work. Most of his paintings are done with inks, crayons and gouache colours on paper. His unorthodox ways as an artists opened new vistas to younger artists. His disregard for literary content and his reliance on the unconscious contributed likewise to a radical change in the general outlook of art.

The Indian Post and Telegraphs Department is happy to bring out a series of four special postage stamps on Modern Indian Paintings.

Source : Information Folder issued by Indian Posts & Telegraph Department, Government of India