B. L. Mukerji- Painter of Nature’s Quite Poetry

Biswanath Lal Mukerji (1921-1984) was an artist who believed that beauty lived in the soft silence of the nature. He was born in Varanasi. He is famous for his glowing landscapes and his mastery of the wash technique in watercolour. He is one of India’s most admired painters.

The wash technique was originally brought to India by Japanese artists - it was perfected by Abanindranath Tagore. Mukerji learned it from his teacher Asit Kumar Haldar and made it his own. He studied at the Government College of Art and Craft in Calcutta. His miniature landscapes shined with jewel-like colours. They often felt as if they were lit from within.

Mukerji’s career was as inspiring as his art. In 1950, he became Principal of the Government College of Art and Architecture in Hyderabad. Later, he headed the College of Art in Delhi until his retirement. His influence went beyond the classroom. He started the annual children’s art exhibition in New Delhi and even set up an international gallery of children’s art in a public garden in Hyderabad.

His work travelled the world. In 1949, he was commissioned to design four murals for the Human Rights exhibition at UNESCO in Paris. Two years later, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London.

Mukerji lived a private life despite all his achievements. He believed in letting his art speak for him. He passed away in 1984. But his paintings continue to inspire even today.

In 2003, he was honoured posthumously with the Kala Ratna award. B. L. Mukerji reminds us that sometimes, the most powerful message is not shouted, but quietly felt.