| Medium | : | Mixed Media |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 12.5 inch / 31.8 cm |
| Width | : | 10.5 inch / 26.7 cm |
| Surface | : | Paper |
| Style | : | Abstract Drawing, Figurative Drawings, Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 26.7 cm × H: 31.8 cm |
A deeply expressive mixed-media portrait by Sunil Das, featuring a fragmented human head rendered with bold black strokes and vivid crimson tones. Rich in emotion and psychological intensity, the artwork captures the artist’s signature gestural style and powerful exploration of the human spirit.
Sunil Das | Head | Mixed Media on Paper | 12.5 x 10.25 inches
This striking mixed-media work by Sunil Das is a powerful study of the human head, rendered with an intensity that feels deeply emotional and instinctive. Built through vigorous black lines, layered textures, and dramatic washes of crimson and magenta, the portrait transcends realism and enters the realm of psychological expression. The face appears fragmented and shadowed, as though revealing both an outer identity and an inner turmoil at the same time.
Sunil Das uses dense ink work and spontaneous gestural marks to create a sense of movement and tension across the paper. The oversized head dominates the composition, almost confronting the viewer with its haunting silence. The dark tonal mass is interrupted by flashes of pink and red, which bring warmth, vulnerability, and an almost visceral energy to the piece. The artist’s confident line work — restless, looping, and raw — gives the artwork a living pulse, making it feel immediate and deeply human.
Rather than focusing on physical likeness, the work explores emotion, memory, and the complexities of the human condition. The abstract distortions and layered structure suggest introspection, conflict, and fragility, themes that were central to Sunil Das’ expressive visual language. The composition balances chaos with control, creating a portrait that feels both unsettling and profoundly intimate.
Executed in mixed media on paper, the artwork carries the spontaneity of a sketch alongside the emotional weight of a finished painting. It is an evocative and collectible example of Sunil Das’ ability to transform the human form into a vessel of raw psychological depth and artistic freedom.
Sunil Das is undoubtedly a multi-dimensional artist known for his furiously experimental and enterprising style. Born in 1939 in Calcutta, India, he studied at the Govt College of Art & Craft in Calcutta. On a scholarship from the French Government, he studied at the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
The artist has painted across several oeuvres, each one distinctive and to which he brought his singular version. Not confining himself to using brush & pen while painting (even using the palms of his hands or his fingers) his paintings not only express the physical attributes of his subjects but also their associative ones. It was in the course of his travels that he chanced to spend a few months in Spain, where he developed his passion for horses and bulls.
The artist has won many medals and awards, including from the state government and the Lalit Kala Akademi. He has also been a part of juries and art bodies in India, France & Brazil. In 2014, he was conferred with the Padma Shri Award by the Government of India.
The artist passed away in 2015.
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 |
