SAILOZ MOOKHERJEE

Sailoz Mookherjea, born in 1907 in Kolkata, is recognized as one of the pioneering figures in modern Indian art. He completed his formal education at the Government College of Arts and Crafts, Calcutta, in 1932. Early in his career, Mookherjea held a position as Art Director at the Imperial Tobacco Company before traveling to Paris in 1937. His time in Europe, particularly his exposure to artists such as Henri Matisse, Cezanne, and Van Gogh, significantly influenced his stylistic development. His works reflect a synthesis of Indian and Western modernist traditions, combining vibrant colour palettes with the expressive techniques of the Paris school.

Mookherjea’s primary medium was oil painting, a divergence from the watercolour-dominated works of his contemporaries. His paintings are characterized by a focus on colour over form, with an emphasis on expression and movement rather than detailed realism. Drawing from the traditions of Indian folk art and miniature painting, his works integrate elements of rural life with modernist abstraction. His use of free and spontaneous brushstrokes, thin layers of oil, and a calligraphic style reflect a unique approach that set him apart from other Indian artists of his time.

During his tenure in New Delhi, where he joined the Sarada Ukil School of Art and later the Delhi Polytechnic, Mookherjea played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of Indian artists, including Ram Kumar and J. Swaminathan. His landscapes, particularly in his later period, exhibit a departure from traditional form, with colour and texture taking precedence over representational detail. This evolution in his work towards near-abstract compositions showcases his commitment to experimentation and modernist principles.

Mookherjea’s works have been exhibited in major national and international venues, including the UNESCO World Art Heritage Exhibition in Paris in 1946. His paintings form part of several prestigious collections, including the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, the Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata, and the Jehangir Nicholson Gallery in Mumbai. Despite his significant contributions to the development of modern Indian art, Mookherjea remains one of the less celebrated of India’s National Treasure artists.

Sailoz Mookherjea passed away in 1960 in New Delhi. His legacy continues to be honoured through his innovative approach to art, which bridged traditional Indian aesthetics with modernist ideals, and his influence on the broader landscape of Indian painting remains substantial.