The correct option is Kala Bhavana, Shantiniketan.
Explanation
The early 20th century in India witnessed a cultural renaissance aligned with the Swadeshi movement. This period saw a rejection of the Western academic realism taught in British-established art schools and a conscious move towards establishing institutions that fostered an indigenous and nationalist artistic identity.
Detailed Analysis:
- Kala Bhavana, Shantiniketan is Correct: Kala Bhavana, the Institute of Fine Arts at Visva-Bharati University in Shantiniketan, was established in 1919 by Rabindranath Tagore. It is recognized as India's first nationalist art school. The curriculum was designed to explore Indian and Asian artistic traditions rather than European academic styles. Nandalal Bose, a pioneer of modern Indian art, played a pivotal role in shaping its pedagogy as its principal.
- Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay is Incorrect: The Sir J. J. School of Art in Bombay was established much earlier, in 1857. It was founded by the British administration to provide instruction in European academic art and industrial design.
- Government College of Art, Calcutta is Incorrect: The Government College of Art & Craft in Calcutta was established in 1854. Although it later became a center for the Bengal School of Art under the guidance of E.B. Havell and Abanindranath Tagore, its origins were colonial.
- Madras School of Arts and Crafts is Incorrect: The Madras School of Arts and Crafts was established in 1850 by Alexander Hunter. It is the oldest art institution in India but was created under the colonial framework.
Key Takeaway:
Kala Bhavana (1919) at Shantiniketan stands out as the first art institution founded on nationalist principles by Rabindranath Tagore, specifically to cultivate a distinct Indian modernism free from colonial academic constraints.