| Medium | : | Mixed Media |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 20 inch / 50.8 cm |
| Width | : | 15 inch / 38.1 cm |
| Surface | : | Board |
| Style | : | Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 38.1 cm × H: 50.8 cm |
| Year | : | 2002 |
An introspective mixed-media portrait by Sunil Das, created in 2002. Built through delicate layers of ink, washes, and expressive linear marks, the artwork explores themes of memory, identity, and emotional vulnerability with remarkable sensitivity and depth.
Sunil Das | Head | Mixed Media on Board | 15×20 inches | 2002
This evocative mixed-media portrait by Sunil Das, created in 2002, carries a quiet yet deeply unsettling emotional presence. Rendered in layered washes of earthy browns, muted greys, and delicate ink lines, the artwork feels like a meditation on memory, identity, and the fragile architecture of the human mind. The face emerges gradually from overlapping forms and restless marks, appearing almost transparent — as though multiple emotions and personalities are existing within the same figure.
Unlike a conventional portrait, this work does not seek physical accuracy. Instead, Sunil Das approaches the human head as an emotional landscape. The delicate scribbles, fragmented anatomical details, and abstract linear structures give the impression of thoughts in motion, revealing an inner psychological world rather than an external likeness. The face appears suspended between clarity and dissolution, creating a haunting sense of vulnerability and introspection.
The subdued palette enhances the atmospheric quality of the piece. Soft sepia washes blend seamlessly with darker graphite-like contours, while faint splashes of red introduce moments of tension and vitality. The transparent layering technique allows the artwork to breathe, making each gesture feel spontaneous yet deeply considered. There is an almost archaeological quality to the portrait — as if hidden memories and emotions are slowly surfacing through the paper.
Executed in mixed media on board, the work beautifully reflects Sunil Das’ mastery of expressive portraiture and his ability to merge abstraction with human emotion. It is intimate, intellectual, and deeply poetic — a compelling example of modern Indian art that invites prolonged contemplation.
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.
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