Journey's End

Towards the close of the 19th Century, Abanindranath Tagore challenged the British academic system of art education and the physicality of the oil medium. As the 20th century dawned, Abanindranath sought to subvert the academic realist art practices of the time and project new aesthetics in visual language. This led him to found a new art school popularly known as Bengal School. He was greatly inspired by the Mughal miniature traditions and the Japanese wash technique. ‘Journey’s End’, one of the masterpieces of Abanindranath, is expressive of Abanindranath’s visual language. It shows a camel that has collapsed under its heavy load carried over long distances. The image shows Abanindranath’s precise yet delicate lines, intensity of the emotive content, a combination of glowing colours and a misty appearance. These qualities make ‘Journey’s End’, an unforgettable image.