In the vibrant world of post-independence Bombay, a German art critic named Rudolf von Leyden played a pivotal yet overlooked role in shaping modern Indian art. Arriving as a refugee from Nazi Germany, Rudi soon became a tireless champion of India’s emerging avant-garde painters. At our Online Talk #ArtisticAwakening, arts editor Reema Desai Gehi captures the critic’s monumental influence on artists like Ara, Husain, Raza, and Souza - the audacious pioneers who rebelled against academic styles to forge a bold, new artistic vision for a nation reborn.

About the speaker

Reema Desai Gehi is an arts writer, researcher and cultural facilitator based in Mumbai. For over a decade, Reema has written on the arts and culture scene for the Mumbai Mirror, India Today and Hindustan Times. She has recently joined Art India — India’s longest-running art magazine — as its editor. She is an alumna of Cardiff University, UK, where she completed her Masters with a special focus on arts journalism. Her first book, ‘The Catalyst: Rudolf von Leyden and India’s Artistic Awakening,’ traces the life and legacy of a seminal art critic who was instrumental in shaping the careers of many artists belonging to the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group.