Mahadev Vishwanath Dhurandhar was born in 1867 in Kolhapur.

From 1890 - 1895 he studied under John Griffiths at Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai. In 1896 he became an Art Teacher at Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai and went on to become the Head Master in 1910. From 1918 - 1931 he was the Inspector of Drawing & Craft and in 1930 he became the First Indian Director of Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai.

Dhurandhar participated in several group exhibitions:
In 1892 and 1895 he took part in the annual exhibitions of Bombay Art Society, Mumbai. In 1904 and 1909 he took part in the Madras Fine Arts Exhibitions in Chennai. In 1905 he exhibited in a group exhibition at Congress Industrial & Agricultural Exhibition in Kolhapur. In 1907 he took part in the Fine Art & Industrial Exhibition in Pandharpur. In 1910 and 1919 he participated in Art & Industrial Exhibition in Jalgaon. In 1919 he took part in Indian Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition in Varanasi. In 1923 he participated in the Wembley Exhibition in London and in 1930 he took part in the India House Exhibition in London.

Dhurandhar passed away in 1944 in Mumbai.

He was posthumously exhibited:
In 1994 he was showcased solo posthumously at Kamalnayay Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai. From 2003 – 2005 he was exhibited in Manifestations I - III at Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi and Mumbai and in 2010 and 2011 he was exhibited in Manifestations IV - VI at Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi. In 2011 he was posthumously exhibited in Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980) at Indigo Blue Art, Singapore.

Dhurandhar received many awards:
In 1891 he won the Waudington Prize in Mumbai and won an award from Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1892. In 1894 he was awarded the Mayo Medal. In 1895 he received a Gold Medal from Bombay Art Society, Mumbai. In 1904, 1907, 1910 and 1914 he won Gold Medals from Fine Art & Industrial Exhibition in Mumbai, Pandharpur, Jalgaon and Gwalior. In 1927 he received the title of Rao Bahadur. In 1952 the president of India appreciated his statue made by Bal Chowan and exhibited it at the Centenary Celebration of Rajaram High School, Kolhapur. In 2017 he was exhibited in The Melting Pot at Gallery 7, Kalaghoda in Mumbai.