Paper

Student Artwork Guide

My Mother

Abanindranath Tagore, 1913

Name Class Date
Abanindranath Tagore, My Mother (1913). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

The facts

Artist
Abanindranath Tagore originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/abanindranath-tagore/
Artist’s dates
1871 – 1951
Painted
1913
Original size
20 x 13 cm
Movement
Bengal School
Period
Modern

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Abanindranath Tagore died in 1951; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 2021.

Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore Part 1 · The artwork

In context

My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore

How big is it?

The original measures 20 × 13 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1870
  2. 1880
  3. 1890
  4. 1900
  5. 1910
  6. 1920
  7. 1930
  8. 1940
  9. 1950

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 80 at death.

Painted when the artist was 42. The artist lived to 80. 2 of the 5 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Abanindranath Tagore (1871–1951) ▲ this work, 1913 every dated painting, decade by decade

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Clay #a16225

    Catalogued palette

    • #A16225
    • #B4773B
    • #24100F
    • #8C4F1A

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Dark The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Clay
    Intensity
    Vivid How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Serene How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Unified Palette How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Balanced How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Clear Color Presence How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Abanindranath Tagore over the last twelve months — 4 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 55.6%500 visits
    2. 2 India 22.2%200 visits
    3. 3 United Kingdom 11.1%100 visits
    4. 4 Singapore 11.1%100 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 11 most looked-at works by Abanindranath Tagore

    1. 1 Season flower in a vase 18.2%200 visits
    2. 2 Old house and a boat 9.1%100 visits
    3. 3 Three sailing boats 9.1%100 visits
    4. 4 Mask: Dinendranath Tagore 9.1%100 visits
    5. 5 Khagen Babu 9.1%100 visits
    6. 6 Palm impression of the right hand of A.N. Tagore 9.1%100 visits
    7. 7 Portrait of Rabindranath Tagore 9.1%100 visits
    8. 8 Maa Parvati, showing the mouse and playing with Baba Ganesh 9.1%100 visits
    9. 9 The victory of Buddha by Abanindranath Tagore, Early 20th Century 9.1%100 visits
    10. 10 Passing of Shajahan 9.1%100 visits
    11. — My Mother, 1913 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 21 works by this artist, of which 10 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Abanindranath Tagore

    Born in Joransanko, India

    Early Life and Background

    Born: May 7, 1861, Joransanko, Calcutta, British India

    Died: December 5, 1951

    Family: Member of the distinguished Tagore family; nephew of Rabindranath Tagore. His grandfather was Girindranath Tagore, and his father was Gunendranath Tagore.

    Education: Studied at Sanskrit College, Kolkata in the 1880s and later attended Calcutta School of Art.

    Artistic Development and Influences

    Early Training: Learned pastels from O. Ghilardi and oil painting from Charles Palmer at Calcutta School of Art.

    Mughal and Rajput Styles: Sought to modernize these styles, rejecting Western art models.

    Swadeshi Values: Incorporated Swadeshi values into his art, promoting Indian traditions.

    Whistler's Aestheticism: Influenced by Whistler’s aesthetic principles.

    Japanese Influence: Later incorporated Chinese and Japanese calligraphic traditions into his style after meeting artists Tikan and Hesida.

    Major Works and Artistic Contributions

    Rohini II: A notable work showcasing his artistic skill.

    Passing of Shajahan: Another significant painting reflecting his style.

    Season Flower in a Vase: Demonstrates his mastery of technique and subject matter.

    Arabian Nights Series (1930): Considered one of his finest achievements, using Arabian Nights stories to explore colonial Calcutta.

    Bharat Mata: A significant painting symbolizing Mother India.

    Founder of the Bengal School of Art: Played a pivotal role in shaping modern Indian painting and promoting nationalistic art.

    Indian Society of Oriental Art (1907): Founded this society to promote traditional Indian art forms.

    Legacy and Historical Significance

    Pioneer of Modern Indian Painting: Recognized as a key figure in the development of modern Indian art.

    Influence on Subsequent Artists: Mentored notable artists such as Nandalal Bose, Asit Halder, Kshitindranath Majumdar and Jamini Roy.

    Revival of Traditional Art Forms: Advocated for a return to traditional Indian techniques and styles.

    Impact on Bengali Children's Literature: Wrote influential children’s books like Rajkahini, Budo Angla, Nalak, and Khirer Putul.

    National Art Treasures: His works are considered National Art Treasures.

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for My Mother

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Tagore, Abanindranath. My Mother. 1913, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/
    APA
    Tagore, Abanindranath (1913). My Mother [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/
    Chicago
    Abanindranath Tagore. My Mother. 1913. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/
    Harvard
    Tagore, Abanindranath (1913) My Mother. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/abanindranath-tagore-my-mother-ARCD2D-en/

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: portrait, motherhood, indian art. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Natir Puja, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Abanindranath Tagore was about 42 when this was made. What in it looks like the work of an artist at that stage?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: OriginalUniqueArt.com — accessed Oct. 7, 2026

    My Mother — Abanindranath Tagore Part 4 · Look closely

    Questions & Answers

    What size should I print "My Mother" for my room?

    The recommended pairing for "My Mother" by Abanindranath Tagore: a small print in a bedroom.

    How intense are the colors in "My Mother" by Abanindranath Tagore?

    The colors in "My Mother" by Abanindranath Tagore have a vivid intensity.

    What subject and atmosphere does "My Mother" by Abanindranath Tagore combine?

    "My Mother" shows portrait, motherhood, indian art, birds, nature, veil, window, and its recorded mood is nostalgic.