Insurgency and The Artist: The Art of The Freedom Struggle in India

Insurgency and the Artist explores how Indian printmakers and artists responded to the freedom struggle, invoking their conception of the nation, sense of the past, and the contours of the movement for India's emancipation from colonial oppression. The book offers a more rounded account of the artwork contemporary to the struggle, highlighting the work of neglected artists and exploring how ideas travel across borders and the relationship of art to politics.

Format: Hardback
Length: 260 pages
Publication date: 19 April 2023
Publisher: Pramod Kapoor

Insurgency and the Artist delves into the profound responses of Indian printmakers and artists to the freedom struggle, exploring not only how they responded to the movement but also how their artistic creations shaped their understanding of the nation, their connection to the past, and the contours of India's struggle for liberation from colonial oppression. While recent scholarly attention has been largely focused on nationalist prints, particularly the concept of Bharat Mata, this book aims to provide a more comprehensive account of the artwork contemporaneous to the freedom struggle, highlighting the contributions of neglected artists such as Babuji Shilpi, S.L. Parasher, Zainul Abedin, and M.V. Dhurandhar, among others. The author examines how the Indian past was portrayed as a martial resistance against foreign rule, the ways in which artists worked with mythic material, and the treatment of larger-than-life figures like Gandhi, Bhagat Singh, Subhas Bose, and other patriots in nationalist art. This lavishly illustrated work serves as both a narrative history of the freedom struggle and a rich exploration of the interplay between text and images, offering insights that conventional histories and images alone cannot provide in isolation.

Furthermore, Insurgency and the Artist extends its inquiry into the realm of ideas, culture, and politics, examining how they traverse borders, the permeability of culture, and the relationship between art and politics. By exploring these themes, the book sheds light on the complex and multifaceted ways in which art can shape and influence social movements and cultural identities.

In conclusion, Insurgency and the Artist is a groundbreaking work that offers a fresh perspective on the freedom struggle in India. Through its comprehensive examination of the artistic responses to the movement, the book provides valuable insights into the complex interplay between art, politics, and society. It is a must-read for anyone interested in Indian history, culture, and the arts, and it will undoubtedly inspire further research and discussion on these important topics.

Dimension: 254 x 210 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9789392130885