The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
Abanindranath Tagore was the principal artist and creator of the "Indian Society of Oriental Art" and the founder of the Bengal School of Art. His work sought to counter the influence of Western academic art by reviving Indian traditional styles and integrating Japanese wash techniques.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Abanindranath Tagore painted a significant series of works based on the Arabian Nights stories in 1930. This series consists of approximately 45 paintings that depict the narrative with a unique, often surreal, visual language distinct from his earlier Mughal-influenced style.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The series was not executed on canvas. Abanindranath Tagore and the Bengal School artists deliberately rejected the Western medium of oil on canvas. Instead, this series was painted using watercolor and ink on paper. While he experimented with various textures, the use of canvas is factually incorrect for this body of work.
Key Takeaway: Abanindranath Tagore's Arabian Nights series (1930) is a landmark collection of modern Indian art painted on paper, marking a departure from both Western realism and strict traditionalism.