Indian painter Jogen Chowdhury dies at 87

Renowned Indian painter and educator Jogen Chowdhury has passed away in Kolkata at the age of 87 after a year-long battle with blood cancer. Born in 1939 in undivided Bengal, Chowdhury was a central figure of the Bengal School and a master of contemporary Indian modernism.

His artistic style was characterized by a unique cross-hatching technique, using sinuous lines and distorted figures to explore human vulnerability and psychological tension. His work blended traditional Bengali folk elements, such as alpana designs, with European expressionist influences gained during his studies at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.

Chowdhury held significant institutional roles, serving as the Keeper of Art at Rashtrapati Bhavan from 1972 to 1987 and teaching at Visva-Bharati University. Following his death, the Indian art market has seen renewed interest from collectors and auction houses, with discussions regarding the potential long-term revaluation of his body of work.