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. It depicts the stylized figures of two fishermen, one in profile and the other frontal. The men have cast their fishing rods and appear to converse on their small fishing boat. Below, the artists has alluded to the presence of the sea by drawing the figures of three stylized fish. These are pictured as swimming in the opposite direction of the boat and are oblivious to the fishing rods and baits.