Page 117 - AstaGuru Masters Legacy April 2024

Portraying ‘She’

Exceptional

Bikash works

Bikash Bhattacharjee, a revered modernist hailing from
Bengal, is celebrated for his pivotal role in revitalising realism
during a period when artists were moving away from the style.
His oeuvre often centred around the depiction of the Bengali
middle class, exploring their aspirations, anxieties, and
complexities.

The formative experiences and encounters of Bhattacharjee’s
early life profoundly influenced his portraiture, earning
him widespread acclaim in later years. While his portraits
encompassed a diverse range of subjects, he held a particular
fascination for portraying women. Renowned for his ability
to render subjects with striking realism or infuse them with
his unique brand of surrealism, Bhattacharjee’s adept
manipulation of light and shadow lent a haunting quality to his
works, rendering them deeply captivating.

Beyond mere portrayal, Bhattacharjee’s paintings of women
served as a poignant commentary on societal treatment,
illuminating the prejudices and adversities they endured.
Among his most notable series, “She,” delved into the
experiences of women across different social strata, shedding
light on the oppression faced by traditional Bengali women as
well as those who dared to defy societal norms. Additionally,
Bhattacharjee’s exploration of Calcutta’s red-light district
and its inhabitants further enriched his body of work, offering
profound insights into marginalised communities.

The presented lot is a fine example of the series and showcases
his expertise in both realism and surrealism. Here, the woman
can be seen painted in the palette and likeness of a sculpture,
facing a child who has their arms outstretched, her mask
laid to the side, as early morning light streams in. The oil on
canvas exhibits the sensuality with which Bhattacharjee often
depicted his female subjects and the multiple facets of women
he deftly painted in a singular composition.