The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
In December 1922, the Indian Society of Oriental Art in Calcutta organized a seminal exhibition of works from the Bauhaus School in Germany. This event, curated with the help of art historian Stella Kramrisch, marked a significant moment of interaction between Indian artists and European Modernism.
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The exhibition in Calcutta was the first show of Bauhaus art held outside Germany. It introduced Indian artists to abstract languages of art, including Cubism and Expressionism. This exposure significantly influenced artists like Gaganendranath Tagore, who subsequently experimented with Cubist styles and geometric abstraction.
- Statement 2 is Correct: The exhibition featured works by prominent masters of the Bauhaus movement. Artists such as Paul Klee, Wassily Kandinsky, Johannes Itten, and Lyonel Feininger were included in the display, not excluded. Their works provided Indian artists with direct access to the avant-garde movements of Europe.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Swadeshi art movement (Bengal School) had already rejected Western Academic Realism (associated with Raja Ravi Varma and British art schools) in favor of a revival of traditional Indian styles (like Mughal miniatures and Ajanta murals). The Bauhaus exhibition introduced Modernism and Abstraction, which was distinct from both Academic Realism and the revivalist Swadeshi style. It did not reinforce a belief in academic realism; rather, it opened avenues for global modernist dialogues.
Key Takeaway: The 1922 Bauhaus exhibition in Calcutta was a landmark event that introduced European Modernism and Abstraction (specifically works by Klee and Kandinsky) to Indian artists, influencing the shift from revivalism toward modern experimentation.