Correct Option
The correct option is Jamini Roy.
Explanation
Jamini Roy (1887-1972) was a pioneering modern Indian artist who rejected both the Western academic realism of Raja Ravi Varma and the delicate "wash" technique of the Bengal School. He sought to create a robust, indigenous visual language rooted in the folk traditions of Bengal.
Detailed Analysis
- Jamini Roy (Correct): In his quest for a pure Indian identity, Roy turned to the Kalighat Pat (scroll paintings) and the toy-making traditions of Bengal. He abandoned expensive European oil paints and canvases. Instead, he prepared his own simple colours using locally available materials such as rock dust, seeds, flowers, indigo, and common clay (minerals and vegetables). This allowed him to achieve the matte, earthy texture characteristic of folk art.
- Raja Ravi Varma (Incorrect): He is celebrated for mastering Western academic realism and oil painting. His style focused on three-dimensional modeling, perspective, and realistic depiction of Indian mythology, contrasting sharply with the flat, folk-inspired style of Roy.
- Nandalal Bose (Incorrect): A stalwart of the Bengal School, Bose was influenced by the classical art of Ajanta and Mughal miniatures. While he explored folk themes (e.g., Haripura posters), his primary techniques involved tempera and wash. He did not exclusively adopt the preparation of vegetable/mineral colours as a defining stylistic rebellion in the same manner as Roy.
- Amrita Sher-Gil (Incorrect): She is known for blending Western Post-Impressionism with Indian subjects. Her primary medium was oil on canvas, and her color palette was derived from standard artistic tubes rather than raw vegetable or mineral preparation.
Key Takeaway
Jamini Roy is the modern artist distinguished by his adoption of the Kalighat folk style (bold lines, large eyes) and his exclusive use of natural, earth-based pigments (tempera) to create a "primitivist" idiom in Indian art.