Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 15, 2026

Devyani Krishna

Devyani Krishna (1918–2000) was an Indian painter, print-maker and teacher. She was also involved in research work about Indian toys, folk motifs and batik work. She was regarded as 'India's foremost woman artist' of the day by the art critic Richard Bartholomew for her diverse body of works that she showcased in India and Europe.

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Devyani Krishna
Born1918 (1918)
Died2000 (aged 81–82)
Alma materSir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art, Mumbai
Spouse
Kanwal Krishna
​
(m. 1942)​

Devyani (or Devayani) Krishna (1918–2000) was an Indian painter, print-maker and teacher. She was also involved in research work about Indian toys, folk motifs and batik work.1 She was regarded as 'India's foremost woman artist' of the day by the art critic Richard Bartholomew for her diverse body of works that she showcased in India and Europe.2

Along with her husband Kanwal Krishna, she traveled to the Himalayas and documented the arts and culture of the region through their artworks. Her paintings were deeply influenced by her experiences during this tour.3

Early life and education

Devyani was born in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. In the 1930s, the city developed as a center for modernist experiments in the International Style under the patronage of Yashwant Rao Holkar II, the Maharaja of Indore.4 He commissioned German architect Eckart Muthesius to design and develop the Manik Bagh palace, and collected works made by the sculptor Constantin Brâncuși and architect Le Corbusier.5

These developments in the city had an influence on Devyani from an early age. Her first art lessons came under the guidance of the master artist and teacher D. D. Deolalikar.1 In 1936, she moved to Bombay and joined the Sir J. J. School of Art to pursue her interest in painting. After graduating in 1940, she completed a specialization in mural painting.6

Career

Devyani married fellow artist Kanwal Krishna in 1942. They retreated to the Himalayas and travelled through Sikkim, the Tibetan border and the North-West Frontier Province from 1949 to 1952.1 From their travels, they made paintings of Tibetan masks, ritual dances and several aspects of Buddhist art.4 These were tumultuous times for people in the region. The couple witnessed the loss of autonomy of the Tibetan Buddhists to China. In 1951, China got complete control over Tibet, which sent Buddhists into exile.3

After returning from the trip, Krishna joined as an art teacher at Modern School, New Delhi. She taught at the institute from 1954 to 1977, when she retired as the Head of the Art Department.6

Style

Devyani's works show her strong sense of design which are complemented with a suitable composition and color harmony.6 Irrespective of the medium, her artworks included sacred symbols, and their concepts were based on the universal themes of family, war and religion.1

Devyani's fascination with Tibetan and Buddhist culture was subsequently incorporated into her paintings.6 When she was asked about the dark aesthetic of her painting titled Veiled Mask, she replied, "No, it is not sad. This is a veiled mask. It is very hard to get to know people. This is just a human being behind two masks."3 Through such imagery, she responded to the tragedy that was unraveling in front of her during her travels in the Himalayas.

Reception

In 1972, Richard Bartholomew, the art critic at The Times of India, wrote about the rise of printmaking in India from the 1960s. He described Devyani as "perhaps the maturest printmaker in India". He added, "She brings both a philosophy and sensitivity to printmaking that are exceptionally rare. Her prints carry the impress of a mystique, besides being technically interesting."7

Works

Public collections

The artworks of Devyani are housed in the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi,8 Delhi Art Gallery,4 and the Waswo X. Waswo Collection.9

Exhibitions

  • 1941 - First solo show at Calcutta6
  • 1996 - Modern Indian Paintings - One Hundred Years, Part I, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi, India10
  • 2005 - Golden Jubilee: Spirit Set Free, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi, India11
  • 2015 - Abby Grey and Indian Modernism: Selections from the NYU Art Collection, Grey Art Gallery, NYU, New York12
  • 2020 - The Fifties Show, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India13
  • 2021 - A Place in the Sun: Women Artists from 20th Century India, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India14
References

References

  1. "Devayani Krishna". Saffronart. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 6 May 2025.
  2. "Untitled (Townscape) - Devayani Krishna | The Surya Collection: Property of Mrs. Ute Rettberg". Sotheby's. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  3. Grey Art Gallery (2015). Abby Grey and Indian modernism : selections from the NYU art collection. Internet Archive. New York, NY : Grey Art Gallery, New York University. p. 74. ISBN 978-0-934349-18-5.
  4. "Devyani Krishna | DAG". dagworld. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  5. "Veiled Mask, n.d." Grey Art Gallery. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  6. "Artist Gallery - Devyani Krishna". goaartgallery.com. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  7. "Old Delhi - Devayani Krishna | The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute Rettberg". Sotheby's. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  8. "Devayani Krishna". Indian Culture. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  9. "Devayani Krishna | The Waswo X. Waswo Collection of Indian Printmaking". collection.waswoxwaswo.com. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  10. "Exhibitions | Modern Indian Paintings". Kumar Gallery. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  11. "Exhibitions | Golden Jubilee: Spirit Set Free". Kumar Gallery. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  12. "Abby Grey and Indian Modernism: Selections from the NYU Art Collection". Grey Art Gallery. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  13. "The Fifties Show". DAG. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  14. "A Place in the Sun". DAG. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
External links