Page 161 - Iconic Master

Lot No. 90

BIKASH BHATTACHARJEE

1940-2006
UNTITLED
45 x 45 in (114.3 x 114.3 cm)
Oil on canvas
1988
Signed & Dated: Bottom Left
` 30,00,000 - 40,00,000 | $ 37,500 - 50,000
Exhibited: ‘Bikash - Beauty & Bengal: A selection of Works from
1950 - 2000’at www.theartstrust.com, October 16, 2022 (online)
Published: ‘Bikash - Beauty & Bengal: A selection of Works from
1950 - 2000’ by The Arts Trust, Mumbai, 2022, pg. 125
Provenance: Property from a collection based in Kolkata

Bikash Bhattacharjee’s portraits frequently delved into the
theme of subverted femininity, depicting women from different
walks of life, including prostitutes, middle-class women, and
those exuding intense sexual allure. Executed in a photo-realist
style, his work often centered on the lives of sex workers in
Bengal. He captured them standing in doorways, interacting with
clients, or engaged in their daily routines within dimly lit, modest
surroundings. These depictions shed light on the broader social,
political, and economic hardships faced by Bengal's residents.
Through his portrayals, Bhattacharjee evoked mixed reactions-
ranging from discomfort to admiration-by highlighting the
nuanced realities of these women’s lives.

Cover of the publication with the work illustrated