| Medium | : | Tempera |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 21 inch / 53.3 cm |
| Width | : | 15 inch / 38.1 cm |
| Dimension | : | W: 38.1 cm × H: 53.3 cm |
This painting by Lalu Prasad Sahu, titled “Bibi” beautifully reflects the artist’s signature style of combining folk sensibilities with a modern, stylized approach. The composition portrays a woman in profile, draped in a green striped saree, her gaze directed thoughtfully into the distance. Her pose, with one hand resting under her chin, conveys quiet contemplation and grace.
Lalu Prasad Shaw | Bibi | Tempera on Board | 21 x 15 inches | 2017 (Unframed & Delivered)
This painting by Lalu Prasad Sahu, titled “Bibi” beautifully reflects the artist’s signature style of combining folk sensibilities with a modern, stylized approach. The composition portrays a woman in profile, draped in a green striped saree, her gaze directed thoughtfully into the distance. Her pose, with one hand resting under her chin, conveys quiet contemplation and grace.
The bold outlines, flat planes of color, and careful detailing of attire and jewelry draw inspiration from Indian miniature and folk traditions, while the simplicity of form gives it a contemporary edge. The bright yellow background with a full moon enhances the vibrancy of the figure and adds a symbolic dimension—perhaps suggesting serenity, longing, or timeless beauty.
Sahu’s work often celebrates ordinary women with dignity and elegance, transforming them into icons of everyday life. In this piece, the woman becomes both an intimate portrait and a universal representation of feminine strength and introspection.
Bibi is a striking blend of tradition and modernity, showcasing how everyday subjects can be elevated into works of enduring charm and cultural resonance.
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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| Dimensions | 50.8 × 66.04 cm |
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