Untitled, Figurative, Mixed Media on Paper

Medium	:	Mixed Media
Height	:	8.3 inch / 21.1 cm
Width	:	6 inch / 15.2 cm
Dimension	:	W: 15.2 cm × H: 21.1 cm

Medium

Mixed Media

Height

8.3 inch / 21.1 cm

Width

6 inch / 15.2 cm

Dimension

W: 15.2 cm × H: 21.1 cm

Description

Jogen Chowdhury | Untitled | Mixed Media on Paper | 8.3 x 6 inches | 2023

This artwork portrays a striking profile of a human head, rendered with bold, continuous lines and a minimal yet expressive style. The figure’s bald head and elongated facial features create a sculptural presence, drawing attention to the contours and subtle emotional undertones of the face. The skin is shaded in gentle tones of pink, suggesting both vulnerability and quiet strength. The simplicity of the form, combined with the intensity of the gaze, evokes introspection — as though the subject is caught in a moment of contemplation. The artist’s use of clean outlines against a white background amplifies the sense of isolation and focus, transforming this seemingly simple study into a powerful reflection on human identity and expression. The date “2023” inscribed on the top corner ties this work to a contemporary context, where minimalism and emotion meet in perfect balance.

Born on 15 February, 1939 in Faridpur (now in Bangladesh), Jogen Chowdhury’s family moved to Calcutta following the partition.
Chowdhury studied art at the Government College of Art and Crafts, Calcutta, and subsequently at École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris. A student of Prodosh Das Gupta, Chowdhury worked in the expressionist style of figuration in his early years. He created his own gallery of the grotesque, featuring lewd men with bellies like sacks and women with loose, hanging breasts. The Paris sojourn sharpened his creative thought process, helping in the evolution of his distinctive personal style.

Chowdhury interprets the human form through the x-ray vision of his creativity: attenuated, exaggerated, fragmented, reconfigured, and rephrased. For Chowdhury, the body has to communicate in silence. Often placing his figures against a vacant background, he does not appropriate the specificity of place or environment; instead, he transfers feelings of anguish on to his figures through gestural mark-making. His dense, crosshatched lines simulate body hair and a web of veins takes away the smooth sensuality of the classical body to manifest the textures of life.
Chowdhury believes art in India is neither subsumed in the miniature traditions nor in those of Ajanta, for India is neither a monolith nor a static entity; and that a notion of Indianness should not be fixed into some kind of timeless loop. He has been awarded the Madhya Pradesh government’s Kalidas Samman, and was honoured at the 2nd Havana Biennale. He lives and works in Kolkata and Santiniketan.

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.

📧 Email: enquiry@gallerykolkata.com
📞 Phone: +91 33 22873377
📱 Mobile: +91 9836515657 | + 91 8981031222

🌍 International Buyers

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.