A pall of gloom descended on the artistic community here as news came in that eminent painter Ganesh Pyne had passed away in a city hospital after suffering a massive heart attack on Tuesday morning. He was 76 and is survived by his wife and son.
For many artists in the city it was not only the loss of one of the pioneers of modern contemporary art, but a personal tragedy as well. “Born in a poor family he had to work very hard in his early days, which is reflected in his paintings that narrate stories of solitude, alienation, pain and horror,” said painter Suvaprasanna, Mr. Pyne’s friend.
“Influenced by the paintings of Abanindranath Tagore, it was Walt Disney’s animation that inspired him to develop his own style. He used his creativity and imagination to revise Indo-European paintings that inspired younger generations,” said artist Samir Aich.
Mr. Pyne’s contemporary Jogen Chowdhury said: “He portrayed narratives regarding life and death, nature and culture, psychology and myth.” He observed historical development very closely and that helped him to paint one of his most well known works — a series of scenes from the Mahabharata, Mr. Chowdhury said.
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“Mr. Pyne was the most imaginative painter,” said artist Wasim R. Kapoor.