Murtaja Baseer

Baseer was born to Muhammad Shahidullah and Marguba Khatun. His father, Shahidullah was a scholar and a linguist. Baseer enrolled in Dacca Art College (now the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1949. After graduating in 1954, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence from 1956 to 1958. He also studied mosaic and etching at École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts (ENSBA) in Paris from 1971 to 1973. ==Career==

in 1962 Baseer joined University of Chittagong as an assistant professor of fine arts, upon his return from France in 1973, and served until his retirement, as a professor of fine arts, in 1998. == Paintings ==

As an acclaimed painter, Baseer's working style was said to have evolved from realism and semi-realism in his early days to abstract realism. His paintings were considered a critical commentary on society. His style of using detailed lines and balanced colors have been considered a critical commentary on society. His portrayal of Bangladeshi women in his paintings is believed to reflect their individuality and strong personality. His paintings have been exhibited in Bangladesh, Pakistan, America, Europe, and the erstwhile Soviet Union. == Author and filmmaker ==

Baseer has written several novels including Ultramarine (1954), Kanch-er Pakhir Gaan (1969), Mitar Shangey Char Shandha and Amitakkhar. He was a regular contributor to now defunct literary journals like Dilruba, Samakal, and Saogat. His first published poem was Parbe Na. In 1964, he was the screenwriter, art director, and chief assistant director on the 1965 Bengali film Nadi O Nari (The River and the Women). He was also art director for the 1965 Urdu film Kaise Kahoon. == Death ==

Baseer died from an infection with COVID-19 in Dhaka on 15 August 2020, at the age of 87, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh, two days before his 88th birthday. He had sought treatment at Evercare Hospital. After Baseer died, he was interred at Banani graveyard, next to his wife, Amina Baseer. ==Awards==

• Prix National, Festival of Paintings, Cagnes-sur Mer, France (1973) • Academy Award by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (1975) • Best Cover Design, National Book Centre, Dhaka (1976) • Ekushey Padak (1980) • Sultan Padak, Narail (2003) • Star Lifetime Award (2016) • Independence Day Award (2019) ==References==