Jogen Chowdhury, the Indian artist known for expressive figures and intricate linework, died in Kolkata at 87 after a prolonged illness. Fellow artists and former students remembered his cross-hatching and support for younger practitioners. Trained in Kolkata and Paris, he oversaw the presidential residence’s art collection before teaching at Santiniketan and later serving in India’s upper house of parliament.
Jogen Chowdhury, the Indian artist known for intricate lines and expressive figures, died in Kolkata, India, at 87. He had undergone treatment for a rare blood cancer for more than a year. His condition worsened with sepsis and he was placed on a ventilator. His death prompted tributes from fellow artists and former students.[1], [2]
Chowdhury studied at Kolkata’s Government College of Art and Craft between 1955 and 1960, then trained in painting and printmaking at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris between 1965 and 1967. Curator Kishore Singh described how his linework connected Bengal’s artistic traditions with contemporary social and political realities. Fellow artist KS Radhakrishnan recalled the patience required by his cross-hatching, a technique that builds tones through intersecting lines.[1]
From 1972 to 1987, Chowdhury oversaw the art collection and its conservation at Rashtrapati Bhavan, India’s presidential residence. He later taught at Santiniketan, the Indian centre of arts education. Former student Mithu Sen remembered his personal support and respect for her work. He also represented Trinamool Congress in the Rajya Sabha, India’s upper house of parliament, from 2014 to 2020, raising questions about taxes on artworks.[1]
