Abanindranath was the brother of the poet Rabindranath Tagore. He had devoted his life to painting and he was the Guru to a number of artists He was the Vice-Principal of the Government Art School and was working under E. B. Havell. Havell had earned a good name as the Principal of Government Art School in Madras. He had shown great interest in the handloom industry and had helped in its revival. After he came to Calcutta he replaced the European paintings on the school walls with Mogul and Rajput paintings. He started a department of fine arts and invited artists from all over India. He made stencil cutting and origami (the art of folding paper) compulsory for all students. He invited well-known artists and made it possible for the students to meet them.

Havell freed Abanindranath from European influences. He drew his attention to Moghul and Rajput styles. The influence of these styles can be seen in his later work. Later on, Abanindranath learnt about Japanese art from Okakura. Okakura was a great Japanese artist and art-critic who had come to India with Swami Vivekananda. Okakura declared that the spirit of a nation expresses itself in its art. He also said that from the point of view of art, all Asia is one. After he returned to Japan, Okakura sent to India two other Japanese artists, Taikoan and Hilsida. Abanindranath studied Japanese art under their guidance.