Sunil Madhav Sen (1910-1979) was a pioneering modernist painter from Bengal, known for blending together rural sensibilities with avant-garde techniques. He was born in Purulia, a region that lies within the Rarh Bengal, which is mainly known for its red soil, rich cultural heritage, folk tradition and art. Sunil Madhav Sen’s roots in this culturally vibrant and geographically unique land played a significant role in shaping his artistic sensibilities.
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Sunil Madhav Sen (Picture clicked from his house in Kolkata)
Though this self-taught artist studied law, his heart belonged to painting. His works reflected the raw energy of folk and tribal life, infused with abstract forms and textured surfaces. Aligning himself with the progressive ideals of the Calcutta Group, Sunil Madhav Sen contributed to redefining Indian art by challenging tradition and embracing modernism. The respected Indian art critic Prasanta Daw, known for his insightful analysis of modern and contemporary Indian art, dedicated an entire book for this trailblazer artist Sunil Madhav Sen. In the book “Sunil Madhav Sen-er Rooplok” (The Aesthetic World of Sunil Madhav Sen; title translated by the blog writer) Prasanta Daw mentioned not only about the techniques used by Sunil Madhav Sen but also describe elaborately about his life, his appearance and his inspirations.
Cover Page of Prasanta Daw's Book
In the very beginning of this book Prasanta Daw elaborately gave a pictorial description of the artist Sunil Madhav Sen. He mentioned that Sunil Madhav Sen was a striking and unforgettable figure, marked by his refined appearance and quiet charisma. With his lean frame and signature cheroot, he exuded a unique presence that resonated deeply within Bengal’s cultural and artistic circles. He shortened his name from Sunil Madhav Sengupta for simplicity and distinction. He got the opportunity to know the artist in the mid 1970s. It was while preparing to write about Sunil Madhav Sen that he first had the opportunity to meet him in person.
In this book Prasanta Daw revealed about his feeling of visiting Sunil Madhav Sen’s house in Hindustan Park, which to him felt more like an amazing personal art gallery than a residence. The walls lined with his framed artworks hinted at a life immersed in creativity. His simple dressing and honest conversation about his past seemed to Daw that modern art is not just about techniques, but a reflection of the artist’s personal life, emotion and inner struggles. He believed that to know an artist fully one must know about his life because art is something that comes from the core of the heart. That is why Prasanta Daw, in this book, gave a detailed description of Sunil Madhav Sen’s life to make his readers aware of the artist’s styles and his creativity.
Paintings Found in Sunil Madhav Sen's House (Picture clicked from Sunil Madhav Sen's House in Kolkata)
Here Prasanta Daw vividly describes how Sunil Madhav Sen was closely connected with the red soil of Rarh Bengal, how this Rarh region and his background played the pivotal role in shaping today’s artist Sunil Madhav Sen. On 27th August 1910, Sunil Madhav Sen was born in Purulia. His grandfather Harinath Roy was a police officer, and his great grandfather Jagadishnath Roy was the first Indian Superintendent of Police. A man of refined taste and literary inclination, Jagadishnath was closely associated with eminent personalities like Madhusudan Dutta, Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, Bankimchandra Chattyopadhyay and many others. Even the famous Bengali novel ‘Bishbrikhho’, written by Bankimchandra Chattyopadhyay, was dedicated to him. Given such a distinguished and cultured lineage, it's no surprise that the spirit of art and literature pulsed naturally through Sunil Madhav Sen’s being, guiding him towards the world of creative expression.
(TO BE CONTINUED...)
REFERENCE
Sunil Madhav Sen er Rooplok, Prasanta Daw, Bharbi Prakashani (সুনীল মাধব সেনের রূপলোক - প্রশান্ত দাঁ)
