The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
Benode Behari Mukherjee (1904-1980) was a pivotal figure in modern Indian art and a key member of the Santiniketan school. He is renowned for his murals and for pioneering a contextual modernism that moved away from the revivalist tendencies of the earlier Bengal School.
Statement 1: Correct
Benode Behari Mukherjee was a student of the celebrated artist Nandalal Bose at Kala Bhavana, the art faculty of Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan. He later became a teacher there and played a significant role in shaping the institution's artistic pedagogy.
Statement 2: Incorrect
Unlike the earlier generation of the Bengal School, which often focused on mythological themes from epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, Mukherjee moved away from literary and mythological subjects. He preferred to depict his immediate environment, nature, and the daily life around the Santiniketan campus, utilizing a style influenced by both Indian folk traditions and East Asian calligraphy.
Statement 3: Correct
He was deeply influenced by the humane and non-sectarian teachings of the medieval Bhakti saints. This interest culminated in his magnum opus, a monumental mural titled The Lives of Medieval Saints on the walls of Hindi Bhavana at Santiniketan. The mural depicts figures such as Kabir, Tulsidas, and Surdas, reflecting the syncretic culture of India.
Key Takeaway:
Benode Behari Mukherjee is best known for his mural The Lives of Medieval Saints and for shifting the focus of modern Indian art from mythological narratives to environmental and contextual themes.