The correct option is
1 only
Explanation
Jamini Roy (1887-1972) was a pioneering modern Indian artist who consciously rejected the Western academic style of painting in favor of a visual language inspired by the folk arts of Bengal, specifically the Kalighat Pats and Santhal tribal art. His transition was driven by a desire to create an art form that was rooted in Indian ethos and accessible to the common people.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: Jamini Roy wanted his art to be accessible to the middle class and not restricted to the elite. He simplified his forms, used flat colors, and abandoned expensive canvas and oil paints for cheaper materials like tempera, plywood, and mats. He aimed to revive the role of the craftsman; consequently, he developed a style that was simple and allowed for the rapid production (or duplication) of images in a workshop-like manner to ensure they remained affordable for a wider public.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Jamini Roy did not reject the academic style due to a lack of skill. He was a trained graduate of the Government School of Art in Calcutta and was highly proficient in Western academic techniques, including oil painting and portraiture, before he chose to abandon them in his mid-thirties.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: There is no historical evidence to suggest that he adopted the academic style to gain favor with the British administration. He learned the academic style as part of the standard curriculum of art education at the time. His subsequent rejection of it was a nationalist and artistic choice to find an indigenous identity, distinct from both European realism and the Bengal School's wash technique.
Key Takeaway:
Jamini Roy rejected the complexity and elitism of Western academic realism to embrace the simplicity, bold lines, and flat colors of Bengal’s folk art, aiming to make art affordable and universally accessible.