APPRECIATION COURSE Masters of European Art

The course was meticulously produced and consisted of extensively researched lessons on understanding pristine European art and its masters across several epochs from prehistoric to modern spanning over four weeks. Participants were introduced and taught about the details and intricacies these arts contain by concentrating upon the stylistic techniques utilized by their masters which correlate to the epoch they belong to and the influence they have had over successive epochs and artistic practices. The course gave exclusive access to practitioners in the field similar or correlated to the art and artists discussed with unparalleled insights into their expertise, motivation and roles. The takeaway from the course included gaining the ability to distinctly identify art and their respective artists or epochs, understanding the similarities and dissimilarities in European art across several epochs, gauging the spread of a particular style or influence transcending temporal and spatial limits and understanding the intricacies present in the commercialization of art belonging to these epochs. Most of us are vaguely aware of da Vinci, Van Gogh, Monet, Munch, or Picasso, who are all considered Masters of European Art. These artists belonged to different times and their paintings bore no resemblance to each other. In spite of their stylistic differences, what is it then that cements their claim to universal greatness? This four-month-long course, designed by leading scholars and taught by domain experts, enabled young artists and enthusiasts to appreciate the artistic genius of European Masters. The course also provided an opportunity to explore with like-minded people the technical acumen and intellectual sophistication of these masters that continue to influence generations of artists in the West and beyond.

Facilitator - NANAK GANGULY

 Nanak Ganguly, is an independent curator and critic based in Kolkata. He has written extensively for The Statesman, Asian Age, Deccan Chronicle, and others. He was appointed the Commissioner of VIII Pan Asia- Pacific Art Biennale by Lalit Kala Akademi in 1997. He has curated shows in India and abroad that include exhibitions titled Urban Narratives at Espace Louis Vuitton, Tokyo (2013) and Charles D’Oyly’s Calcutta, Early Nineteenth Century at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata. (2014). He has been on the selection committees of various international projects. He has been appointed Jury for Situ-I, ELV, Paris. He has a few books to his credit including Somnath Hore (ed.) published by Lalit Kala Akademi and has contributed to Akbar Padamsee,Work in Language (Marg Publications).
Facilitator - DR. SUMANA DUTTA

Dr. Sumana Dutta, is an art historian who received her doctoral degree from Rabindra Bharati University. She has been appointed as a Guest Lecturer in the History of Art Department, Rabindra Bharati University. Her interest lies in the Folk Art of Bengal. She has published several essays in journals and magazines and has also co-authored a book.

Facilitator- PROF. SOUMIK NANDY MAJUMDAR


Soumik Nandy Majumdar, is a faculty member of the Department of History of Art, Visva Bharati, Santiniketan in the Department, Kala Bhavana (The Institute of Fine Arts & Crafts). Prof. Majumdar has taught as a Visiting Faculty at IIT-Kanpur, in the discipline of Fine Arts, under the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. He completed his B.F.A. and M.F.A. in History of Art from Santiniketan and M.S.University, Baroda respectively. He has written extensively on the emergence of modern art in Bengal with a special focus on Santiniketan, has researched extensively on Visual Appreciation as an essential tool of Visual Education and conducts workshop programs on Art Appreciation and Visual Literacy for both school children and teachers. Prof. Majumdar has published articles and essays in various national and international journals and magazines and has contributed as an art critic to a number of catalogues of contemporary art shows and has two books on art appreciation in Bengali to his credit.
Facilitator- DR. MOUSUMI GHOSH

Dr. Mousumi Ghosh, received her Ph.D. in History of Art from Rabindra Bharati University with State JRF and SRF. After qualifying NET, she has been working as a Guest Lecturer in the History of Art Department, Rabindra Bharati University & Visual Art Department, Kalyani University. She has published several seminal articles in various magazines and has been exhibiting her artworks since 2015.


Date - 7th August to 4th December 2021

Day -  Every Saturday  

Time - 11.00 am to 12.30 pm

Name of the Facilitators - Prof. of University & Colleges 
Participants were learnt about the similarities and dissimilarities in European art, the ability to identify art and their respective artists, and the intricacies present in the commercialisation of art belonging to these epochs.