The forgotten art of Bengali advertising (opens original article in a new tab)

The article reflects on the forgotten art of Bengali advertising, highlighting vintage advertisements and their illustrators, many of whom are now unrecognized. The author explores the historical significance of these ads and compares them to lost cultural elements like the Patuas.

• The author discovers vintage Bengali advertisements and their illustrators, many of whom are unnamed and forgotten.
• The article draws parallels between the lost illustrators of Bengali ads and the Patuas, traditional scroll painters who also disappeared from history.
• Art critics dismiss these early advertisements as 'ugly' and 'mindless,' but the author argues for their cultural and artistic value.