The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
The Bengal School of Art was a nationalist art movement that emerged in the early 20th century in Bengal. It developed as a revivalist reaction against the Western academic art styles promoted by British art schools in India, seeking to establish a distinct modern Indian aesthetic rooted in indigenous traditions.
Statement 1 is Correct:
The movement was nurtured by Abanindranath Tagore and E.B. Havell. E.B. Havell, as the Principal of the Government School of Art in Calcutta, revised the curriculum to exclude European academic training. Together with Abanindranath Tagore, he encouraged students to derive inspiration from Indian art history rather than Western models.
Statement 2 is Incorrect:
The Bengal School explicitly rejected academic realism and the use of oil painting, which were viewed as Western imports (associated with artists like Raja Ravi Varma). Instead, the school adopted watercolours, tempera, and the Japanese wash technique to create soft, misty, and atmospheric effects distinct from the sharp realism of European art.
Statement 3 is Correct:
The artists of this school sought to reconnect with Indian heritage. They drew extensive inspiration from the frescoes of Ajanta (for line and form) as well as Mughal and Pahari miniatures (for detail and lyrical content). The style was a synthesis of these traditional Indian elements with influences from Japanese art (Okakura Kakuzo and others).
Key Takeaway:
The Bengal School of Art signifies the rise of nationalism in Indian art, characterized by the rejection of Western oil painting and realism in favor of traditional Indian themes, watercolours, and the wash technique.