Art & Deal, having completed 75 issues, looks back and brings to its readers some of the best of its earlier pieces of writing. We have tried to trace history chronologically to make an interesting, more coherent read. The present issue is thus a compilation of some of the finest of articles from our previous issues on most of the important artists/groups of the Indian art scene. We begin with one of the older traditional styles of painting prevalent in India, the miniatures. Then, from the western classical style painterly skills of Raja Ravi Varma, one of the first masters in Indian art, who is largely responsible for popular religious iconography in India till date. A wave spread across the nation, a desire to evolve a more indigenous style of painting, to bypass western style and incorporate more of Asian tradition to invent a new visual language. We further explore the styles and practices of Bengal masters like Heman Mazumdar, Sarada Ukil, Nandalal Bose, Jamini Roy, Ramkinkar Baij, Gopal Ghose, Prodosh Dasgupta and demystify the works of the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Indian art witnessed the advent of modernism on a parallel plane along many different parts/ cultures of the country. Not only did individual artists begin striding towards modernity but also, various groups were formed like the Bombay Progressives, Delhi Silpi Chakra, Calcutta Group, Cholamandalam etc. wherein many likeminded artists came together and changed the history of Indian art, we have attempted to cover most of these (after an entire issue devoted to the Shipi Chakra movement) as also, as many of the related individual artists as possible. The issue also accolades the work of Manjit Bawa & Jehangir Sabavala, masters from the same temporal phase of Indian art. Moreover, we look into the journeys of radical women artists like Amrita Shergill & Nasreen Mohamedi who made a mark each in her own way in Modern Indian art. We move on to trace the political & cultural nuances in work of renowned photographer Sunil Janah. And finally, we attempt to explore the unique style of Sohan Qadri and decode the references, emotions and revelations in the art work of Bhupen Khakhar. We have tried to trace most of the historically important and interesting of artists from pre to post independence era along with the emergence and manifestation of modernism and beyond. Hope you enjoy the journey. Happy reading!

Siddhartha Tagore