Some artists rejected the art of Ravi Varma as imitative and westernised and
declared that such a style was unsuitable for depicting the nations ancient myths and legends. They felt that a genuine Indian style of painting had to draw
inspiration from non-Western art traditions, and try to capture the spiritual
essence of the East. These artists broke away from the convention of oil painting
and the realistic style, and turned for inspiration to medieval Indian traditions of
miniature painting and the ancient art of mural painting in the Ajanta caves.
Abanindranath Tagore was one of the first artists who wanted to develop a
national style of art.