| Medium | : | Tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 21 inch / 53.3 cm |
| Width | : | 15 inch / 38.1 cm |
| Surface | : | Board |
| Style | : | Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 38.1 cm × H: 53.3 cm |
| Year | : | 2017 |
A graceful pair of tempera on board works by Lalu Prasad Shaw, featuring a contemplative woman and a man engaging with a bird. With clean lines, bold colors, and folk-inspired stylization, the artworks create a quiet narrative of introspection and connection.
Lalu Prasad Shaw | Babu-Bibi | Tempera on Board | 21 x 15 inches | 2017, 2018 (Set of 2 works)
This elegant pair of works by Lalu Prasad Shaw beautifully captures the quiet poetry of human presence through his signature stylized visual language. Executed in tempera on board, the compositions present two distinct yet emotionally connected figures—a woman and a man — each enclosed within their own framed space, creating a subtle narrative interplay.
In the first work, the woman is depicted in profile, dressed in a green sari with delicate jewelry, her hand gently supporting her chin as she gazes outward in contemplation. A soft yellow backdrop with a glowing sun-like form enhances the sense of calm introspection and timelessness. In the second, a man wearing a striped vest and kurta holds a small bird perched delicately on his fingers, his posture suggesting curiosity and gentle engagement. His composed demeanor and stylized features echo the same quiet rhythm seen in the companion piece.
Shaw’s use of bold outlines, flat planes of color, and refined detailing draws from Indian miniature and folk traditions while maintaining a distinctly modern sensibility. The tempera medium lends a smooth, matte finish, enhancing the clarity, precision, and luminosity of the colors.
Together, these works function as a harmonious diptych — each figure occupying their own world, yet connected through mood, gaze, and visual balance. The pairing evokes themes of solitude, reflection, and subtle human connection, making it a compelling addition to any discerning collection of contemporary Indian art.
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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