| Medium | : | Acrylic |
|---|---|---|
| Height | : | 60 inch / 152.4 cm |
| Width | : | 30 inch / 76.2 cm |
| Surface | : | Canvas |
| Style | : | Figurative Paintings |
| Dimension | : | W: 76.2 cm × H: 152.4 cm |
| Year | : | 2005 |
Bijan Choudhury’s Untitled (2005) is an expressive figurative work set against a dramatic, rocky landscape beneath a pale moon. A group of elongated human figures creates a quiet yet theatrical narrative, with the seated woman in the foreground anchoring the composition. Soft earthy colours, flowing lines, and loose brushwork give the painting a dreamlike and almost mythical atmosphere, leaving the viewer free to imagine the story behind the scene.
Bijan Choudhury | Untitled | Acrylic on Canvas | 30 x 60 inches | 2005
Bijan Choudhury – Untitled, 2005 is a striking figurative painting that brings together human figures, nature, and a sense of quiet mythology. The composition is built around a dramatic rocky landscape, where several figures appear to move through and inhabit the scene. The central seated woman immediately draws the eye, while the figures behind her add depth and a feeling of an unfolding story.
The painting has a dreamlike quality. The rocky formation rises almost like a monumental natural structure, while the pale moon in the background creates a calm, mysterious atmosphere. The figures are rendered with elongated proportions and expressive, flowing outlines, giving them a sculptural presence without making the scene feel rigid.
Choudhury’s palette is predominantly soft whites, creams, ochres, muted oranges, and earthy browns, with touches of blue and red adding contrast. The loose, layered brushwork allows the colours to merge naturally, particularly across the rock and surrounding landscape. Rather than describing every detail realistically, the artist simplifies the forms and lets gesture, posture, and line carry much of the expression.
There is a strong sense of movement throughout the work—the raised arms, flowing garments, walking figures, and sweeping lines of the landscape all contribute to a theatrical quality. At the same time, the seated figure in the foreground provides a moment of stillness, creating an interesting balance between movement and contemplation.
The overall impression is both poetic and enigmatic. The painting feels like a scene from a remembered story or an imagined world, inviting the viewer to spend time with the figures and wonder about their relationships and the narrative unfolding around them.
Artist Bijan Choudhury was born in Faridpur in 1931. He was one of the early practitioners of contemporary art in Bengal. Every serious workshop would find him involved in an exchange of thoughts and idioms of visual and literary expressions.Born to journalist Kunjabehari Chowdhury, Bijan Chowdhury was raised in an atmosphere steeped in music, painting and drama. Bijan Choudhury has worked on the imagery of Bengali poetry as it has evolved since its earliest days to the present, covering almost more than four centuries of poetical development.
His paintings have narrative elements but are in no way illustrative. He is here both as a composer and interpreter. His archetypal imagery and symbolism are not explicit as in the recent Indian variety of Surrealism and fantastic art. He has always avoided the sensational and the fearful aspects of art. He has searched for significant visual forms that have behind them the range and scope of Human Art since the earliest cave dwelling days.
Since his early days at Kolkata’s Govt College of Art and Craft he was deeply involved in Marxist politics. This led to his being expelled before completing his diploma but strengthened his bond with Dhaka as it prompted him to graduate from their Govt Institute of Arts. And till his last breath he considered Bangladesh to be his own.
Artist Bijan Chowdhury passed away in 2012.
Education
1945-49: GCAC, Kolkata; 1953: Grad., Govt. Institute of Arts, Dhaka.
Exhibitions
1959 Group show, Society of Contemporary Artists, Calcutta.
1960 Group show, Society of Contemporary Artists, Calcutta.
1960 Bangla Sanskriti Sammelan, Calcutta and Bombay.
1962 Solo show at Arts and Prints Gallery, Calcutta.
1963 Solo show at Arts and Prints Gallery, Calcutta.
1963 Solo Exhibition at Patna.
1964 Eight Painters from Calcutta, AIFACS Gallery, New Delhi.
1964 Calcutta Painters group show, Calcutta.
1965 Calcutta Painters group show, Calcutta.
1966 Show in honour of Giacometti, Industry House, Calcutta.
1968 Exhibition with Paritosh Sen, Pravas Sen, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, Mahim Rudra, Calcutta.
1969 West Bengal Artists, sponsored by Srinantwu, Bombay.
1974 Exhibition at Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta.
1974 Calcutta Painters group show, Birla Academy of Art & Culture, Calcutta.
1975 Calcutta Painters group show, Sridharani Art Gallery, New Delhi.
1975 Participated in the Third Triennale, New Delhi.
1977 Retrospective, Allai
Awards
1963 Academy of Fine Arts Award, Calcutta.
1978 Rabindra Bharati Award, Calcutta.
1978 Documentary coloured film entitled `Bijan`, made by Film Australia, Film Division of Govt. of Australia.
1995 `Abanindra Puroshkar`, Govt. of West Bengal, Calcutta.
1996 : He also received William Carey Award.
2004: Doctor of Literature, RBU
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