Mukul Chandra Dey was a pioneering Indian printmaker and painter, widely regarded as the first artist in India to practise and popularise drypoint etching as a fine art. Born in Sridharkhola, Bengal, in 1895, he was introduced to art at an early age and received formative training at Santiniketan under Rabindranath Tagore. He further studied under Abanindranath Tagore and Gaganendranath Tagore, aligning himself with the broader intellectual and artistic milieu of the Bengal Renaissance.

Dey’s artistic journey was marked by extensive international exposure. In 1916, he travelled with Tagore to Japan, where he encountered Nihonga painting traditions, before moving to the United States to study etching under James Blanding Sloan in Chicago. He became the first Indian elected to the Chicago Society of Etchers. He later continued his studies in London at the Slade School of Fine Art and the Royal College of Art, refining his technical command of printmaking.

Over a prolific career spanning six decades, Dey produced over 100 copper plates and more than 2,000 paintings and drawings. His works often depict Indian life, mythology, and architecture, combining Western techniques with an Indian sensibility. His detailed drypoint etchings and portraits of contemporary figures remain among his most celebrated contributions.

In 1928, Dey became the first Indian principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta, where he actively promoted printmaking and art education. He also served as curator at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi. A recipient of numerous honours, including fellowship of the Lalit Kala Akademi, Dey’s legacy lies in establishing printmaking as a significant modern art practice in India. He passed away in 1989.