| Medium | : | Tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 22 inch / 55.9 cm |
| Width | : | 28 inch / 71.1 cm |
| Surface | : | Board |
| Style | : | Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 71.1 cm × H: 55.9 cm |
| Year | : | 2020 |
Babu Bibi by Lalu Prasad Shaw beautifully captures a quiet moment between a traditionally dressed couple through bold colours and folk-inspired simplicity. Painted in tempera on board, the artwork celebrates companionship, Bengali heritage, and the timeless charm of everyday life with warmth and understated elegance.
Lalu Prasad Shaw | Babu Bibi | Tempera on Board | 28 x 22 inches | 2020
Babu Bibi by Lalu Prasad Shaw is a graceful celebration of everyday companionship, inspired by the rich visual traditions of Bengal. Executed in tempera on board, the painting portrays a traditionally dressed man and woman seated opposite each other in a quiet moment of conversation. Their calm expressions, poised gestures, and direct gazes create a gentle sense of connection, inviting the viewer into an intimate yet familiar domestic scene.
Set against a vibrant yellow background, the artwork radiates warmth and simplicity. Shaw’s signature style is evident in the bold outlines, flat planes of colour, and carefully balanced composition, all of which draw inspiration from the Kalighat and Bengal folk painting traditions. The subtle details—the woman’s hand fan, elegant jewellery, the gentleman’s hookah, and their coordinated striped garments—add character while preserving the painting’s clean, uncluttered aesthetic.
More than a portrait of two figures, this work reflects the quiet beauty found in everyday relationships. It captures shared moments of companionship, mutual respect, and cultural heritage with timeless elegance. Its striking colour palette and refined folk-inspired style make it an engaging addition to both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Born in Suri Bengal, in 1937, Lalu Prasad Shaw obtained a Diploma in Painting from the Government College of Art and Craft, Calcutta, in 1959.
Despite training in Company School art, traditional Kalighat pats and Ajanta cave frescos, Shaw evolved his distinctive style to work in watercolours and oil. His teachers were some of the leading artists of the time, such as Gopal Ghose, Rathin Maitra, and Maniklal Banerjee.
In the 1970s, Shaw mastered the genre of graphics — initiated by the Society of Contemporary Artists — expressing it through the abstract form. Shaw experimented with the two-dimensional, geometric and non-figurative, as is evident in his lithographs.
Unlike his prints, Shaw’s paintings are charged with nostalgia and are object-specific. His brooding characters — men, women, and children — seem frozen into a kind of quiescent gesture; they are formal and speechless, but still expressive. Drawing from Mughal miniatures and adhering largely to profiles framed within borders along the edges, Shaw depicts faces of ordinary people, emphasising their physical characteristics. He has also experimented with landscapes, appearing to merge the urban and rural visual in styles ranging from the minimalist to cubist-inspired. His confident use of broad blocks of colours placed harmoniously is seen here too.
Shaw has exhibited extensively in India and abroad and his works form part of national and international collections. He has received prestigious awards like the West Bengal Lalit Kala Akademi award, the national award of the Lalit Kala Akademi, and the Birla Academy award. He lives and works in Kolkata.
If you’d prefer the artwork to arrive ready to hang, please get in touch with us to arrange framing and shipping at applicable charges.
Please note: Customs duties and import taxes may apply at your destination in accordance with your country’s regulations. Refer to our International Shipment document for guidance and support.
| Medium | |
|---|---|
| Height | |
| Width | |
| Surface | |
| Style |
