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Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) is one of India’s best known cultural icons. He was an influential national figure of India, whose genius has transcended boundaries. Besides being a poet, he was a novelist, a writer of short stories and plays, a composer of songs, an essayist, and a philosopher. Painting was the last art form to enter his rich creative life.

This publication is produced in conjunction with three travelling exhibitions of Rabindranath Tagore’s paintings, organized as part of India’s National Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.

Since the whirlwind, 10-city international show that the poet-painter had undertaken in 1930, this is the first time that such a large body of Rabindranath’s work is travelling internationally. In mid-20th century, Rabindranath was the first Indian artist to be extensively exhibited in the West. The current exhibitions will travel in three parts simultaneously, to a total of eight cities across the world.

The contributors to this companion publication include two of the best-known translators of his works, his biographer and specialists in music art and education. Along with over 200 works by Rabindranath, this unique volume brings together essays by leading scholars from around the world, which lend insight into Rabindranath Tagore as a painter as well as locate his paintings within the larger framework of his multifaceted creative work.