Ramananda Bandyopadhyay (b. 1936) is an embodiment of the Bengal School of Art. Ramananda’s artworks manifest his admiration for the simplicity and unpretentious life of rural communities. Through his paintings, he breathes life into the bygone era’s purity, simplicity, and grace. His mother’s fondness for paan (betel leaf) inspired his signature palette of reds, browns, and greens, which characterize his work.

Drawing from India’s rich cultural heritage, Ramananda painted subjects derived from Indian mythology and literature, including Hindu Gods and Goddesses. Growing up, he imbibed the religious tenets of the Ramakrishna Mission from his parents, which ultimately led him to serve as a teacher and Director of the Art Museum and Gallery at the Ramakrishna Mission Vidyapith in Kolkata.

Ramananda’s artistic legacy is a fusion of traditional and contemporary art forms, where he ingeniously intertwines mythology and heritage with everyday life, transforming mundane subjects like the middle-class going about their daily activities with a rare grace and beauty.