Sannat Chatterjee

Born 1935 in Lucknow, India, Sannat Chatterjee is one of the last living pioneers of the Bengal school. Credited for his exceptional paintings, Chatterjee is a legend among Indian art and culture enthusiasts. Known for his large artworks, Sannat has an admirable entry in the Guinness Book of Records for rendering the longest painting.  

Chatterjee displayed great talent from an early age in paintings and sculptures. With his parents' support in his artistic journey, he began learning from the league of Bengal school artists like Asit Kumar Haldar. For the next 14 years, Sannat practised and created a traditional Indian style of painting, running his subjects from history, mythology and religion.

In 1960, he got his diploma in fine arts from the Government College of Art and Craft. During his formative years, he met and worked with Kshitinder Nath Majumdar from Allahabad in his apprenticeship. During this time, Sannat’s art evolved being shaped with precise tones and expert hands-on paintbrush techniques. 

Due to his father’s job at the Indian railway, and travelling several regions, Sannat was exposed to vast Indian culture and traditions from an early age. He adopted various techniques and styles belonging to the rich heritage of the land and continued to progress in his practice. Painting landscapes, figurative and creative compositions, his oeuvre speaks of diversity that has enriched our nation since time immemorial.

Exploring in silk and canvas, his artworks narrate a legible influence of the old Bengal masters like Nandala Bose, Abanindranath Tagore, among others, who had been instrumental in carving the identity of Indian modernism. The artist’s revolutionary artwork has been shown in 78 exhibitions in different parts of India. Many paintings have been housed in prominent Government buildings. 

Sannat Chatterjee lives and works in Shimla.