Illustrations by M. V. Dhurandhar from the book By-Ways of Bombay - 1912

The Spirit of Chandrabai

 A Millhand

 A Marwari Selling Barassa

 The seller of "Malpurwa Jaleibi"

 A Koli woman

 The "Pan" Seller

 An Opium Club

 A "Madak Khana"

 Imtiazan

 Possession of Afiza

 A Bhandari Mystery

 An Arab

 A Bombay Memon

 Sidis of Bombay

 Parashurama and the Chitpavans

 Nur Jan

 A Koli

 A Deccani Fruit-Seller

 The Cofee Seller

Fateh Muhammad

Read the Full Book

Untitled Oleograph by M. V. Dhurandhar 1910

Oleograph
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Kalasa Temple, Ellora Illustration by M. V. Dhurandhar

Pen and ink on paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

A Mohomedan Girl as Seen Sitting in the Tram by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

A Fisher Woman of Bombay by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Lori Ragina by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Untitled Head by M. V. Dhurandhar

Oil on Canvas
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Self Portrait by M. V. Dhurandhar

Oil on Canvas
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

A Mohamedam Girl from Faram Road by M. V. Dhurandhar 1922

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

The Potter by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Paniwala Bhat of Bombay by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolour on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Portrait of the Artist`s Wife by M. V. Dhurandhar

Oil on Canvas
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

A Jaina Priest by M. V. Dhurandhar

Watercolor on Paper
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Devi by M. V. Dhurandhar

Oil on Canvas
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Savitri, Satyavan & Yama by M. V. Dhurandhar 1924

Oil on Canvas

Devotee - Oil on Canvas by M. V. Dhurandhar - 1924

Devotee
M. V. Dhurandhar (1867-1944)

Mahadev Visvanath Dhurandhar was also called Rao Bahadur, a title bestowed on him by the British government, was the first Indian director of the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai.

Dhurandhar was born in Kolhapur (a district in Maharashtra). His father understood and supported his son's extraordinary artistic talents and put him under the tutorship of famous painter Abalal Rehman. The next step was the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai, which he joined in 1890.

Dhurandhar was exposed to the works of the European and British artist, what with the entire faculty at the school being from Britain. Unlike Eastern cultures, where art was oriented towards line drawing, in the West it was pictorial heavy. Fascinated by this form of art, Indian students too began emulating the European Academic Art form, and Dhurandhar was a product of the same school of art. He painted a lot of figurative works and studies of people like Raja Ravi Varma.

His famous painting, 'Women At Work', got him a British Government Award in 1892, while still a student. Yet another black and white illustration, 'Marriage Ceremony' won him a gold medal in 1908.

In 1896, Dhurandhar was invited by the Sir J. J. School of Art to join the institute as a teacher. In 1910, he was appointed the Principal, and in 1930, became the first Indian to be appointed director of the art school.

Dhurandhar rode the art scene in Mumbai in those years, and through his solo exhibitions as well as group shows, his works became popular among the classes and the masses. This at a time when a concept like solo shows was unheard of.

His works include more than 5,000 paintings and 50,000 illustrations. He won more than five gold medals, to say nothing of silver ones during his life. But by 1931, he sought retirement, three years after he was awarded the title of Rao Bahadur by the British government.

Mahadev Dhurandhar died in Mumbai. Many of his paintings were preserved by his daughter, Ambika, who was also a student of the Sir J J School of Art. One of his paintings still hangs at the Buckingham Palace, and another one is in the South Kensington Museum. Royal family palaces and maharaja retreats across India still own several of his works.