Sailoz Mookherjea (1906–1960) was an Indian

painter Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...

. He is one of the early modernists who showed a flair for simplification of forms, vigorous lines and dynamic movement. He is on the 1979 list of ''Nine Masters'' of Archaeological Survey of India. His work was deeply inspired by people and the environment.

India Post India Post is a government-operated postal system in India, part of the Department of Post under the Ministry of Communications. Generally known as the Post Office, it is the most widely distributed postal system in the world. Warren Hastings ha ...

released a stamp, The Mosque, with his painting on it.

Career

Sailoz Mookherjea's simplification of form and vibrancy were derived from his years in Europe and inspiration from works of

Matisse Henri Émile Benoît Matisse (; 31 December 1869 – 3 November 1954) was a French visual artist, known for both his use of colour and his fluid and original draughtsmanship. He was a draughtsman, printmaker, and sculptor, but is known prima ...

, but his main influences were folk art and

Basohli Basohli (formerly Vishwasthali) is a town near Kathua in Kathua district in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, India. It is situated on the right bank of River Ravi at an altitude of 1876 ft. It was founded by Raja Bhupat Pal som ...

miniatures. He focused on themes such as oneness with nature and rural serenity. His line were bold and color technique powerful. During his time in

New Delhi New Delhi (, , ''Naī Dillī'') is the capital of India and a part of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). New Delhi is the seat of all three branches of the government of India, hosting the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Parliament House ...

in the 1940s and 50s, he meet frequently with other painters of the

Bengal school of art The Bengal School of Art, commonly referred as Bengal School, was an art movement and a style of Indian painting that originated in Bengal, primarily Kolkata and Shantiniketan, and flourished throughout the Indian subcontinent, during the Britis ...

, especially with

Manishi Dey Manishi Dey (22 September 1909 – 31 January 1966) was an Indian painter of the Bengal School of Art. Manishi Dey was the younger brother of Mukul Dey, a pioneering Indian artist and dry point etcher.Satyasri Ukil: "Mukul Dey: Pioneering Indi ...

and Shantanu Ukil. He was highly regarded by both artists like

Jagdish Swaminathan Jagdish Swaminathan (21 June 1928 – 25 April 1994) popularly known as J. Swaminathan was an Indian artist, painter, poet and writer. He played a role in the establishment of the Bharat Bhawan, a multi-art complex in Bhopal, in 1982, and serv ...

and critics like

Richard Bartholomew Richard Lawrence Bartholomew (29 November 1926 – 11 January 1985) was an Indian art critic, photographer, painter, poet, and writer. Early life Richard Bartholomew fled from Tavoy (Dawei), Burma (Myanmar), where he was born, during the Secon ...

who had the following to say about him ...

''There should have been a monument dedicated to Sailoz in the middle of Connaught place instead of an ugly fountain''

''There is not a single work of Amrita Sher-Gil which can stand before his painting Washing Day''

''The reason he has not gotten the recognition – is that he lacks in pretentiousness''

''For after
Amrita Sher-Gil Amrita Sher-Gil (30 January 1913 – 5 December 1941) was a Hungarian-Indian painter. She has been called "one of the greatest avant-garde women artists of the early 20th century" and a pioneer in modern Indian art. Drawn to painting from an ear ...
.. – He has been our most significant painter''

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mookherjea, Sailoz Indian male painters Bengali Hindus Bengali male artists 1960 deaths 1906 births Government College of Art & Craft alumni University of Calcutta alumni 20th-century Indian painters Painters from West Bengal 20th-century Indian male artists