Pioneer Indian graphic artist Mukul Dey has left behind a huge body of work, as a result of his interactions with a worldwide cross-section of important people. These throw light on early 20th century Indian art scenario.

Mukul Dey Archives is a private archive, located at Santiniketan, West Bengal, India.

Contents
The entire body of Mukul Dey Archives should be anywhere between 500-750 individual files and more. At this moment we can give you only an approximate idea as at this point of time we are busy making a detailed catalogue of the entire collection.

Mukul Dey Archive is a repository of:

• Important Papers — Correspondences with his contemporaries, newspaper clippings containing reports of Indian art scenario in early 20th century.
• Picture Gallery — Unpublished old and rare photographs, original paintings and graphic prints of Mukul Dey and his contemporaries. Also available are old lithographic prints etc.
• Library Facilities — Period Indian and international exhibition catalogues and rare books related to art..

The Aim

Few can deny the importance of documentation in an era which is essentially information oriented. We consider correct information, substantiated by exact documentary evidence and their speedy retrieval system should be the cornerstone of every meaningful research work. Please read the Conservation Report on Mukul Dey Archives by C. B. Gupta, former Senior Technical Restorer of the National Museum.

At Mukul Dey Archives, we keep a firm faith that whatever we have inherited, collected and preserved till now should be made available to the serious research scholar from all over the world. This would help in the initiation of a fact-based study..

Archives Complex
The archive is located in a well shaded tropical garden, in the compound of the 75 years

old 'Chitralekha' house; at Rabindranath Tagore's Santiniketan, West Bengal, India. It was at Chitralekha that Dey had lived for the best part of his life.

The complex consists of a spacious research room, picture gallery along with an adjoining guestroom — occupying a total area of approximately 850 sq. feet.

The archive complex is a brand new structure right from its foundation, made for this specific purpose alone. It is roomy, airy and provides good cross-ventilation to dispel any accumulation of trapped moisture. Right from the foundation up to the D.P.C. level, the building has been treated with insecticides to control the ravages of white-ant and termite.

Compared with many modern archives, our modest effort will be found wanting in several aspects — and, we know that. However, what we have are the records, documents and images of a bygone era, which may help in reconstructing an alternative picture of Indian art and cultural renaissance.

Want to do research work at Mukul Dey Archives? Click here for details.

Have questions? Check them out in our Frequently Asked Questions section, or contact us by or fill our feedback form. Someone from Mukul Dey Archives will get back to you soon.

Printer friendly version