Deity

Medium:Oil
Height:20 inch / 50.8 cm
Width:16 inch / 40.6 cm
Surface:Board, Canvas
Style:Figurative Paintings
Dimension:W: 40.6 cm × H: 50.8 cm
Year:2015

A striking and deeply expressive work by Rabin Mondal, this painting presents a powerful feminine deity-like figure rendered in the artist’s unmistakable visual language. Set against a vivid red background, the figure emerges with bold contours, exaggerated facial features, and textured brushwork that evoke both primal strength and spiritual presence. The artwork balances folk-inspired symbolism with modernist expression, creating a captivating image that feels timeless, mysterious, and emotionally charged.

Description

Rabin Mondal | Deity | Oil on Canvas Board | 20 x 16 inches | 2015

This compelling painting by Rabin Mondal captures the essence of a sacred feminine presence through a bold and highly stylized composition. Dominating the canvas is a monumental female figure whose oversized eyes, angular features, and symbolic form command immediate attention. The rich crimson backdrop amplifies the intensity of the subject, while thick layers of oil paint create a tactile surface filled with movement and emotion.

Mondal’s characteristic approach blends elements of folk art, mythology, and modern expressionism. The figure appears both human and divine — an embodiment of resilience, fertility, and spiritual power. The simplified anatomy and mask-like face lend the work an almost totemic quality, inviting viewers to explore deeper meanings beneath its seemingly primitive forms.

The earthy palette of ochres, blacks, and reds enhances the painting’s raw energy, while the textured brushwork reflects the artist’s spontaneous and instinctive creative process. Every mark contributes to a sense of presence, making the figure feel alive within the picture plane.

Ideal for collectors of Indian modern art, this artwork is not merely a portrait but an exploration of identity, mythology, and the enduring strength of the feminine spirit. Deity stands as a testament to Rabin Mondal’s ability to transform simple forms into powerful emotional and symbolic narratives, making it a remarkable addition to any serious art collection.

Rabin Mondal was inspired by primitive and tribal art, its potent simplifications and raw energy.
The son of a mechanical draughtsman, Rabin Mondal took to drawing and painting at the age of twelve when he injured his knee and was confined to bed.
The Bengal famine of 1943 and the Calcutta communal riots of 1946 deeply impacted his psyche; he joined the Communist Party and became an activist. Mondal’s final refuge was art as the ultimate weapon of protest.
Mondal’s figuration derived from a growing abhorrence towards mankind’s moral decay in all spheres of life. The cubo-futuristic angularities of forms within the pictorial space arranged around them evolved into a series of paintings depicting highly distinct human figures that struggled to live a hero’s life in a mocking but tragic world.
Mondal’s images have a deeply felt iconic appearance. The series Queen, King, Man represent figures that are static, totemic, tragicomic, ruthlessly shattered and ruined. Having subverted the classical canons of harmony and beauty, Mondal evolved a vocabulary to express his anguish and rage towards decadence in society. The expressionistic use of splattered colours and the bold application of black are part of that vocabulary.
Beginning his career as an art teacher, with a stint as an art director in films, he was a founder member of Calcutta Painters in 1964, and from 1979-83 a general council member of Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi. He passed away in Kolkata on 2 July 2019.

Shipment DetailsThis artwork will be shipped unframed, either in roll form or flat, depending on its requirements—at no additional cost.

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.

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