The creative artistes were fast losing interest in the occidental academic art form. At this stage, several distinguished artistes in Calcutta took an unanimous decision to modernise the then prevailing theme and style of paintings and sculptures. They were inspired by the 'London-Group' of artistes and accordingly founded the 'Calcutta Group'. The founder members of this group in 1943 were legendary artistes like Nirad Kumar, Subho Thakur, Pradosh Dasgupta, Rathin Maitra, Pran Krishna Pal, Paritosh Sen, Gopal Ghosh, Kamala Dasgupta etc.
They were later joined by Gobardhan Ansh, Abani Sen, Hemanta Mishra, Rathin Mitra and Sunil Madhav Sen.
After India had attained independence, some of these artistes went to Europe for learning the latest trends in modern art. Again, many of them stayed back and founded an original and exquisite form of canvas art and miniature paintings. Those who had gone abroad came back to India with an enriched knowledge and skill. Now they got alienated from the erstwhile 'Calcutta-Group'. Consequently, it dissipated and gradually became non-existent. But art in Calcutta definitely took an upswing. The impressionist paintings of Gopal Ghosh can be cited for instance in this regard. Incidentally, it should be mentioned that 'impressionism' is the method of painting which gives general effect without detail. Gopal Ghosh's sceneries in this mode of art had reached a highly refined state of poetic sensitivity.
The decade of the forties was characterized by strong leftist movements which was revealed in the cultural life of Calcutta. The society was undergoing a conspicuous change. Values and attitudes were changing fast. So, all forms of creative art especially paintings, reflected this new attitude of 'neo-realism'. This was particularly manifested in the paintings of Chittaprasad, Somnath Hode, Debabrata Mukhopaddhaya and artistes of their ilk. These artistes made brilliant paintings of the gallant farmers of the Tebhaga Movement besides the devastating 'famine' which was chosen by most of the painters. Their paintings of the 'Labourers Strike' (1945) and the 'Naval Revolt' were exemplary specimens of exquisite art.
In the fifties, when the Leftist movement was intensified in Bengal, these painters drew posters which were highly acclaimed. They were later joined by young and prolific artistes like Deb Kumar Roychowdhury, Bijan Chowdhury etc. Although their paintings were politically motivated, they can never be denigrated as merely propaganda-art but are highly appreciated by the connoisseurs of art for their rich artistic value..