Benode Behari Mukherjee was a pioneering figure in modern Indian art, known for his vast and multifaceted oeuvre, a keen sense of observation, and deep engagement with nature and architecture. He was born in 1904 in Behala, near Calcutta (now Kolkata), into a highly educated family. However, a childhood illness left him blind in one eye and myopic in the other, which prevented him from pursuing a conventional education. At the age of thirteen, he was one of the first students to join Rabindranath Tagore’s school at Santiniketan, a turning point in his life and artistic journey. At Kala Bhavana, he found inspiration in the quiet landscapes of Santiniketan and immersed himself in the study of nature and the rhythms of everyday life, themes that would remain central to his work. He later joined the same institution as a teacher and played a pivotal role in shaping Kala Bhavana into one of the most influential centres of modern Indian art.

Mukherjee’s art practice was shaped by a wide spectrum of influences, blending elements of Western modernism with visual traditions from India and East Asia. A self-funded trip to Japan in 1937 further deepened his appreciation for East Asian brushwork and traditional techniques. He showed extraordinary adaptability across mediums and techniques, experimenting with ink drawings, watercolours, tempera on wood, woodcuts, etchings, mural and lithographs. In 1957, Mukherjee lost his sight, but this physical loss did not diminish his creative spirit as he adapted to tactile forms, working with collage and sculpture, guided by memory, intuition, and internal vision. He resumed teaching at Santiniketan, focusing on art history, while also writing extensively on Indian art education, his own experiences and reflections on art.

Benode Behari Mukherjee passed away in 1980 at the age of 76.