BEGINNINGS
He was born in Dinajpur, Bangladesh.
EDUCATION
1938-44 Diploma, Government School of Art, Calcutta. 1946 2 years Teachership, under Ramendranath Chakravarti, Government School of Art, Calcutta.
EXHIBITIONS
1941 All India Art in Industrial Exhibition, Calcutta.1949 All India Exhibition, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad.1950 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta.1951 20th Annual All India Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi.1951 7th All India Art Exhibition, Shilpa Kala Parishad, Patna.1952 Indian Academy of Fine Arts, Amritsar.1952 International Exhibition of Black and White Drawings, Lugano, Switzerland.1952 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta.1953 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta.1953 Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1955 Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1956 Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1956 Silver Jubilee Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi.1957 Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1958 All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, New Delhi in Bulgaria.1958 10th All India Art Exhibition, Shilpa Kala Parishad, Patna.1959 3rd International Graphics Art Exhibi
COLLECTION
Makhsood, BangladeshHeriberto Sonnenberg, Buenos AiresOsian?s archive and library, IndiaViswa Bharati University Museum, SantiniketanLalit Kala Akademi, PatnaShilpa Kala Parishad, Patna Government College of Art & Craft, KolkataBirla Academy of Art & Culture, KolkataAcademy of Fine Arts, KolkataPradeep Botra, KolkataPheroza Godrej, Cymroza Art Gallery, MumbaiEbrahim Alkazi and Art Heritage, New Delhi National Gallery of Modern Art, New DelhiDelhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
AWARDS
1941 Certificate of Merit, All India Art in Industry Exhibition, Calcutta.1949,50,54 Gold Medal, Academy of Fine Arts, Calcutta.1949,55 Gold Medal, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad. 1950,51,58,62,63 Gold Medal, Shilpa Kala Parishad, Patna.1953 Silver Medal, Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1955,56,57,61,68 Gold Medal, Mysore Dasara Exhibition, Mysore.1958 Gold Medal, Society of Painters, Madras.1986-87 Akademi Award, West Bengal State Akademi of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts, Calcutta. 1989 Received `Abanindra Puraskar`, Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta.
STYLE
Harendranarayan Das moved from one medium to another, at times reverted to the earlier ones but it was always confined to printmaking. From the mid 1950s to 1970s his graphics art showed huge recognition in abroad. The bulk of Haren Das`s substantial body of prints comprised woodcuts, wood engravings and etchings as it was his favourite medium. Occasionally, he switched over to linocuts for change. For softer effects, or diffused quality of light, he resorted to sugar aquatint, or to mezzotine. He did drypoints as well.
Much of his work is comparable to prints of the Victorian period, reflective of a particular world, known and deeply etched in the mind, repetitive and mechanical at times, but tightly composed, where, apart from the documentary value, skill and trimness matter a great deal. Minute workmanship and a keen power of observation are conspicuous. Meticulous rendering attracts the viewer`s attention to themes both commonplace and off-beat. This man`s contribution makes him a
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
1943 Art Teacher, Zilla School, Coomilla, East Bengal (now Bangladesh).
1947 Taught Printmaking, Government School of Art, Calcutta.
1951-81 Lecturer, Graphics Department, Government College of Art and Craft, Calcutta.
