HARENDRA NARAYAN DAS
Haren Das (1921-1993) was a highly respected artist in India, renowned for his exceptional skill in printmaking mediums. His work encompassed engravings, linocuts, etchings, and lithographs, although he is most celebrated for his technical mastery of woodcuts and wood engravings. Das followed a tradition of wood engraving that originated in the bazaars of north Calcutta in the mid-19th century.
Throughout his career, Das remained committed to British academic and Victorian ideals, which emphasized concepts of perfection and traditionally perceived beauty. Unlike artists such as Somnath Hore, who responded to the 1943 Bengal Famine with brutal directness, Haren Das focused on his vision of a rural ideal. Through his serene and idyllic depictions, Das subtly highlighted the dignity and resilience of rural India, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of Indian art.