Yesterday marked the 92nd birth anniversary of master painter Quamrul Hassan.
Quamrul Hassan (1921-1988) was one of the significant painters of Bangladesh, recognised for reintroducing our folk and traditional elements through his art. He was one of the founders of Dacca Art College. He was an influential artist working in almost all media -- like oil, gouache, watercolours, pastel, etching, woodcut, linocut, pen and pencil. He also did several woodcuts, especially after the famine of 1974 -- works that expressed his anger and frustrations.
The painter was involved not only with arts but with other activities such as sports and the Brotochari movement in 1939. He developed connections with several leaders of the Communist Party and got drawn in with the task of mental development of youngsters.

Hassan's artworks delineate rural Bengal and its people. He portrayed human figures, trees, snakes, owls, jackals, birds, fish, animals as well as landscape where one can experience his passion. He mingled romanticism with realism, focusing on bold curved lines and vibrant colours.
Hassan did several paintings on the Liberation War. The works reveal the tragedies of war and the sufferings of the masses.
Hassan served as the chief artist of the Bangladesh Government in exile during the Liberation War and designed the state monogram of People's Republic of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bank, Freedom Fighters Welfare Trust, Parjatan Corporation and Biman Bangladesh Airlines. He won several prestigious awards including President's Gold Medal, Independence Award, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Honour (1984), Fellow of Bangla Academy (1985) and others.