In 1943, a time when famine ravaged Bengal, Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin picked up his brush and ink to capture a tragedy that left hundreds of thousands dead in its wake. His now-iconic "Famine Sketches", drawn on cheap packing paper, immortalised the suffering of a people forgotten by their leaders, at the mercy of famine profiteers. 

These haunting images—rendered in stark strokes of Chinese ink—depicted the brutality of greed and the helplessness of the starving masses, forever etching Abedin's name in the annals of art history.

The Famine Sketches brought Abedin national acclaim, but more than that, they marked a turning point in his artistic vision. It was through these visceral drawings that he discovered his voice—one deeply rooted in the realism of human suffering, struggle, and resilience. 

This newfound style would become his signature, culminating in works like "The Rebel Cow" (1951), a striking watercolour that stands as a testament to his belief in art as a force for social change.

Over the course of his career, Abedin used this brand of realism to depict pivotal moments in history, none more so than the turbulent years of 1969 and 1971, when Bangladesh's fight for independence was at its peak. 

During these times, Abedin created some of his most powerful works—images that spoke to the pain, anger, and hope of a nation in upheaval.

In 1970, as unrest brewed in his homeland, Zainul Abedin turned his gaze outward, visiting Palestinian refugee camps across Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan. There, he sketched the faces of exile—men, women, and children displaced by War. His son, Mainul Abedin, recently unearthed several of these long-lost drawings from his father's sketchbook. One of these sketches, a haunting 8.5 x 4.5-inch portrayal of a refugee, was donated to the Coronafine Group of the Faculty of Fine Art (FFA) at Dhaka University (DU). The plan? To auction the piece and use the proceeds to aid those most affected by the pandemic.

The painter's son, Mainul, speaking of the discovery, said, "I came across the sketches while looking through my father's old work. Immediately, I knew I wanted to donate one to the Coronafine Group, where the money raised could be used to help people in need."

Born in the riverside town of Mymensingh, Zainul Abedin grew up surrounded by the quiet beauty of the Brahmaputra River—a landscape that would later influence his work. In 1933, he enrolled in the Calcutta Government Art School and eventually became a respected teacher there. As a member of the progressive Calcutta Group, Abedin was instrumental in pushing the boundaries of modern art in South Asia.

But it wasn't just his talent with a brush that defined Zainul Abedin. He was a cultural leader, deeply involved in the Liberation War movement, and committed to preserving the Bengali identity. In 1975, he founded a folk museum in Sonargaon and established the Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin Sangrahashala in Mymensingh, ensuring the protection of Bangladesh's rich artistic heritage.

Abedin's greatest legacy, however, might be his role as the founding principal of Dhaka University's Government Institute of Arts and Crafts (now the Faculty of Fine Art), which he established in 1948. Under his leadership, a generation of Bangladeshi artists—including luminaries like Patua Qamrul Hassan, Shilpaguru Safiuddin Ahmed, Shafiqul Amin, and Anwarul Haq—emerged, using their art to reflect the rapidly changing society around them.

His Famine Series remains some of the most evocative work to come out of that period. These skeletal figures, drawn in the starkest of black lines, are not just representations of the famine but of the resilience of the human spirit. Through these images, Zainul captured not only the horror of starvation but the dignity and strength of those who endured it.

Even decades after his death in 1976, Abedin's contributions to art and to his country are immeasurable. As the pioneer of modern Bangladeshi art, his influence extended far beyond the canvas. His idea of modernism was not just about form, but about the spirit of a people. 

His paintings of the late 60s and 70s, particularly his 30-foot scroll titled "Manpura 70", commemorate the countless lives lost in the devastating 1970 cyclone. These works centre on the power of ordinary men and women, celebrating their fight against impossible odds.

Today, on the 110th birth anniversary of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, we celebrate not only the artist but also the visionary whose profound contributions shaped modern Bangladeshi art that gave a voice to the voiceless.

The article was originally published on Sunday, May 10, 2020, in The Daily Star.

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