1 Abdur Rahman Chughtai 2 Because of its

1 Abdur Rahman Chughtai

2 Because of its geographical location and rich history, Lahore had been the center of art and culture in West Pakistan for centuries. During this time, in the field of fine arts, several different trends were developing. The prepetition senior artists, Abdur “Rahman Chughtai, $ee "ahamin, Anna Molka, and‘ Ustad Allah Bukhsh (, already held prominent positions in the art scene of Pakistan with their respective Persian & Mughal, Bengal and ) European academic painting styles. These artists were creating art with Islamic references to the glorious, pre -colonial past of the Mughals, as well as the pure, regional themes of Punjabi folklores

3 Rather than carrying any reference to Indian history, these subjects and themes were politically correct and benign, �!ng the ideology of the nation-state of Pakistan. “among the younger generation, Zubeida Agha was the only artist at that time in west Pakistan whose training by an Italian war prisoner in Lahore, Mario Perlingieri, introducedher to the abstract art mo&ements of the $est. ' In(ast Pakistan, #ainul "bedin was well known for hisminimal modernist pen and ink drawings

4 the art circle came into being because these artsts wanted freedom to breathe and to dothings beyond the range of Anna Molka, Chughtai, and "llah +aksh, the three icon of Lahore as art establishment. they wanted to go modern whether anyone liked it or not �"kbar�a/&i 0''1, 2345.

5 Ustad Allah Bakhsh was born in Wa%irabad in +��-. Ustad Allah Bakhsh is one of the famous painters from Pakistan who is recognised for materialising the rural life and landscape specifically of Punjab on his canvas. "l though the basic theme of painters work re&ol&es around the local and folk cultural heritage, but his work is also said to be inspired by classical western art which is re 6 ected through the paintngs of 7 indu mythological characters.

6 His masterpieces include Sohni Mahival Talism-e-Hosh. Ruba Heer-Ranjha, Sohni Dhart and the rural life and landscape of Punjab.

7 Abdur Rahman Chughtai was a Pakistani painter, noted for his work inspired by a variety of sources that included traditional miniature, Mughal, Art Nouveau, Orientalist, and Islamic styles of painting. Chughtai's best-known paintings are his portraits, featuring their subjects existing in a flattened pictorial space painted in rich golds and pastels, and populated by metaphorical signifiers. A prolific artist, he created thousands of watercolors, drawings, and prints over the course of his life.

8 Chughtai was lauded as one of the most important Muslim artists of the early 20 th century, and went on to achieve widespread attention and honor for his work, including the Presidential Medal for Pride of Performance from the Pakistani government in 1968. Today, his work is represented in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the National Art Gallery in Islamabad, and the British Museum in London, among others. Born in Punjab, Pakistan in 1897, he died in the city of his birth in 1975.

9 Abdur Rahman Chughtai (born Sept. 21, 1894—died Jan. 17, 1975), Education: Mayo School of Art, Lahore Pakistani artist. In the 1920 s he created large watercolours in a modified Bengalschool style. By the 1940 s hispainting style was influenced by Mughal architecture, Islamic calligraphy, miniature painting, and Art Nouveau, and his diverse subject matter included heroes and heroines from Islamic history, Mughal kings and queens, and episodes from Punjabi, Persian, and Indo-Islamic legends and folktales.

10 After the partition of the subcontinent in 1947, he came to be known as the national artist of Pakistan. Abdur Rahman Chughtai was one of the earliest art icons of Pakistan, and became the first official national artist after the country gained independence in 1947. Chughtai, who descended from generations of craftsmen and decorators, had the uncommon opportunity to study at a British-founded art school in Lahore. As a result, his hallmark style was a composite of diverse influences, which included Mughal art, Islamic calligraphy, miniaturist painting, and Art Nouveau.

11 His style was characterized by a reduction of forms into luminous planes of color, simple compositions, and delicate draftsmanship. His favorite subjects were portraits or illustrations modeled after heroes and heroines from Islamic history, legends, folktales, and Mughal royalty. Chughtai also wrote fiction and criticism, and designed stamps, coins, insignia, and book covers

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