Drawing

Jamini Roy (1887-1972) was one of the most important artists of the modern period in India, drawing on the popular and folk traditions of rural Bengal for his inspiration. He developed his own personal style which was characterised by bold lines and flat use of colour.

This sketch is one of a series in the V&A collection which show his experimentation with different subject matter. The drawing depicts a male figure blowing a horn (possibly Shiva) sitting on the back of a calm-looking bull. The overall sense of movement is achieved by the artist's use of curvilinear strokes, such as the horn, the figure's arched neck and bent knees. The artist has used blue pen and ink and pencil on cream paper stuck to a card. The sketch has been finished in pen, while the pencil pentimenti have been left to stand.