The correct option is 2 only
Explanation
The Swadeshi movement in art was a nationalist cultural revival that sought to counter the dominance of Western academic realism. It aimed to reconstruct a distinct Indian artistic identity by drawing inspiration from indigenous traditions such as the Ajanta murals, Mughal and Rajput miniatures, and folk art.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: The movement was spearheaded by the Bengal School of Art, led by Abanindranath Tagore and E.B. Havell. This school became the hub for the nationalist art movement, rejecting the colonial art curriculum in favor of Indian aesthetics.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Abanindranath Tagore and his contemporaries did not oppose print media; rather, they actively utilized it. Journals like The Modern Review, Prabasi, and Bharati were instrumental in publishing reproductions of their paintings and essays on art, thereby propagating their ideas to a broader public.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The movement was defined by its rejection of European academic realism and oil painting techniques (styles associated with the likes of Raja Ravi Varma). Instead, it promoted Indian idealism, spiritualism, and techniques like the Japanese wash method, arguing that art should reflect the nation's soul rather than merely copy physical reality.
Key Takeaway:
The Bengal School of Art represented the artistic dimension of the Swadeshi movement, characterized by a rejection of Western realism and a revival of traditional Indian and Asian artistic techniques.