| Medium | : | Tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 28 inch / 71.1 cm |
| Width | : | 22 inch / 55.9 cm |
| Surface | : | Board |
| Style | : | Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 55.9 cm × H: 71.1 cm |
| Year | : | 2017 |
A set of two stylized figurative paintings depicting a woman and a man in quiet, everyday moments — rendered in bold colors and clean lines, evoking a subtle narrative of domestic life and cultural charm.
Lalu Prasad Shaw | Babu-Bibi | Tempera on Board | 28 x 22 inches | 2017 (Set of 2 works)
This charming set of two paintings presents a stylized narrative of everyday life, rendered in a distinctive folk-modern visual language. The works feature a woman and a man in separate but visually connected compositions, both set against bold, flat backgrounds of warm red tones framed with subtle borders. The figures are depicted in profile with clean lines, minimal shading, and expressive yet restrained facial features—hallmarks of a refined, illustrative style.
In the first panel, the woman, dressed in a vibrant yellow sari with delicate striping, is captured in a thoughtful pose, her hand gently raised to her lips as if caught mid-conversation or contemplation. Her adornments—bangles and a simple necklace—add cultural specificity while maintaining compositional simplicity.
The second panel portrays a man in traditional attire, calmly engaged with a hookah placed on a small table. His posture and gaze suggest a quiet, introspective moment. A small framed floral motif in the background adds a domestic touch, balancing the composition and reinforcing the intimate, interior setting.
Together, the pair creates a subtle dialogue—perhaps of relationship, routine, or parallel lives—without direct interaction. Executed in a flat, decorative style with crisp outlines and harmonious color blocking, this set is ideal for collectors and interiors seeking a blend of narrative charm, cultural nuance, and modern aesthetics.
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.
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