Indian Society of Oriental Art

18 July 2024

The Indian Society of Oriental Art (ISOA) was an art society established in 1907. ISOA held numerous art exhibitions, published high-quality art reproduction and elite illustrations.

The Indian Society of Oriental Art founders Abanindranath Tagore (principal) and Gaganendranath Tagore established the society to propogate the discourse of oriental art, both modern and ancient.

The ISOA began with a series of exhibitions chronicling the new movement in Indian painting, under the tutelage of Abanindranath Tagore and EB Havell.

A school was opened at 6 Samavaya Mansion in the Hindusthan Insurance Building, Kolkata, taught by Nandalal Bose, Giridharilal, and Kshitindranath Mazumdar.

The ISOA published two journals. The ‘Journal of Indian Society of Oriental Art’ was first issued in 1933. Another quarterly journal published by ISOA was ‘Rupam’ which was in circulation between 1920 to 1930.