Paper Title: History, Memory, and Art: Visual Narratives in Bengals Cultural Heritage
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Abstract:
This study examines the interplay of history, memory, and art in Bengal, focusing on painting traditions from the ancient to colonial periods. Art in Bengal has functioned not only as aesthetic expression but also as a repository of collective memory and a visual document of cultural, political, and religious life. Ancient traditions such as Pata Chitra and terracotta plaques preserved folk narratives and devotional practices, while manuscript illustrations of the Pala and Sena periods reflected both Buddhist and Hindu influences. In the medieval era, Vaishnava, Shaiva, and Shakta themes coexisted with Mughal-inspired styles, producing artworks that embodied identity, devotion, and social history. Colonial Bengal introduced new genres such as Company paintings, caricature, and Battala prints, while the Bengal School of Art and famine sketches by artists like Zainul Abedin and Chittaprasad transformed painting into a tool of resistance and national consciousness. The study highlights how Bengali painting continually engaged with memory and history, offering alternative narratives that challenged dominant discourses. By situating art as both a historical document and a medium of cultural resilience, the paper argues that Bengali painting remains central to understanding the regions past, interpreting its present, and envisioning its future.
Keywords:Bengali painting, History and memory,Patachitra, Bengal School of Art,Colonial Bengal, Cultural identity.
DOI Link – https://doi.org/10.63431/AIJITR/2.IV.2025.93-100
Review By – Dr. Chandan Mandal and Amit Adhikari