Gobardhan Ash (1907–1996) was a pioneering Indian modernist painter from Bengal and an influential figure in Contextual Modernism. Trained at the Government College of Art, Kolkata, and later at the Madras School of Art, he challenged colonial art norms and co-founded groups such as the Young Artists’ Union, Art Rebel Centre, and later associated with the Calcutta Group.

His art blended social realism with modernist experimentation, most notably in his 1943 Bengal famine series, which captured the human suffering of the time. Other celebrated works include the Children Series (1957–67) and the Avatar Series (1950). His practice drew inspiration from everyday life, rural Bengal, and emotional depth, often rendered in earthy, expressive tones.

A teacher and mentor, Ash influenced younger generations while working at art institutions in Kolkata. Despite his reclusive nature, his work gained wide recognition, and retrospectives—such as the 2024 exhibition at Kolkata Centre for Creativity—highlight his lasting legacy.

Ash is remembered as a rebel, modernist, and visionary, whose art fused empathy, experimentation, and cultural identity.