born April 15, 1887, Baliatore, India
died April 24, 1972, Calcutta
Indian artist.
In the late 1920s and early '30s he rejected his academic training and instead developed a linear, decorative, colourful style based on Bengali folk traditions. During the 1930s and '40s the popularity of his paintings represented the passage of modern Indian art from its earlier academic leanings to new nativist predilections. Roy's subject matter ranged from the Ramayana to Christ to portraits of contemporary figures such as Mahatma Gandhi. He is one of the best-known Indian artists of the 20th century.