Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Bharat Mata" (Mother India) is a seminal painting in the history of modern Indian art.
It was created in 1905 during the peak of the Swadeshi Movement, which was a response to the British partition of Bengal.
The painting aimed to provide a visual symbol for the national identity and to move away from Western "academic" styles toward a truly Indian aesthetic.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951), the founder of the Bengal School of Art, was the creator of this masterpiece.
Analysis of the painting:
1. Iconography: "Bharat Mata" is depicted as a saffron-clad woman, resembling a Hindu ascetic or Sanyasini. She stands calmly, holding four objects that represent the basic needs of a nation.
2. Four Symbols:
- Vedas: Representing spiritual and secular knowledge.
- Sheaves of Paddy: Representing agricultural prosperity and food security.
- Rosary (Japamala): Representing spiritual strength and meditation.
- White Cloth: Representing self-reliance in clothing (linked to the Swadeshi boycott of British textiles).
3. The Wash Technique: Abanindranath used a unique technique he learned from Japanese artists called the "Wash technique." This involves applying multiple layers of thin watercolor and washing them off, creating a soft, misty, and ethereal atmosphere.
4. Political Significance: The painting was used widely in nationalist rallies. It helped transform the abstract idea of a "nation" into a tangible, maternal figure that citizens could love and defend.
Other Artists:
- Nandalal Bose: A student of Abanindranath who later became the principal of Shantiniketan and illustrated the Constitution of India.
- Rabindranath Tagore: The Nobel laureate poet who began painting in his late 60s, using a very different, modernistic style.
- Gaganendranath Tagore: Abanindranath's brother, who was famous for his cubist experiments and satirical caricatures.
Therefore, the artist of "Bharat Mata" is definitively Abanindranath Tagore.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Abanindranath Tagore is the artist who painted the iconic "Bharat Mata" in 1905, establishing it as a symbol of the Bengal School and Indian nationalism.