Ram Kumar, born in Shimla, India in 1924, was a pioneer of abstract art in India. His early life was marked by his education in Delhi, where he studied economics before moving to Paris in 1949 to study painting under renowned artists such as Fernand Léger. His initial works were figurative, but his style evolved into abstract expressionism over time. Deeply influenced by existentialism, Ram Kumar’s paintings often depicted inner struggles and emotional landscapes, moving away from traditional representations to explore human conditions through abstraction.

A pivotal moment in Ram Kumar’s career came after his visit to Varanasi in the 1960s, where the spiritual and physical contrasts of the city greatly impacted his work. His abstract urban landscapes, inspired by Varanasi’s ghats and temples, are considered some of his most powerful creations. Internationally acclaimed, Ram Kumar exhibited in prestigious events such as the Venice Biennale, and his contributions to modern art earned him numerous accolades, including the Padma Bhushan. His legacy endures as a key figure in Indian modernism, both as an artist and a writer.