Rarh Bengal, with its rugged red soil and undulating laterite terrain, was more than just a backdrop to Sunil Madhav Sen’s (1910-1979) early life - it was his first teacher, which left a long-lasting impression on Sunil Madhav Sen’s inner world. For Sunil Madhav Sen it was not merely something to look at, it was something he lived. From this soil, his earliest impressions of life and art took root and what he absorbed here would return again and again, in his works - not always as direct representations, but as feelings and texture.
Sunil Madhav Sen's Self-portrait
In his book “Sunil Madhav Sen-er Rooplok” (The Aesthetic World of Sunil Madhav Sen; title translated by the blog writer), Prasanta Daw gives an elaborate account of how Rarh Bengal has a deep influence on Sunil Madhav Sen’s brushstrokes. Due to his father’s frequent transfers, Sunil Madhav Sen’s early years were unsettled. At the age of six he moved to Bankura from his birthplace Purulia and there he joined the district school.
While talking about the influence of Rarh Bengal, Prasanta Daw particularly penned a memory from Sunil Madhav Sen’s early days - a quiet, fleeting afternoon that would leave a lasting impression on the young boy’s heart.
Krishna and Radha by Sunil Madhav Sen, Crayon/Pastel on Paper
One golden afternoon, school was let out earlier than usual, young Sunil Madhav Sen and one of his friends wandered through a sunlit garden, enjoying its natural beauty. The two curious boys followed a narrow trail that led them to a small workshop near a tranquil pond. There he saw a sculptor - sat half-submerged in the earth, shaping an idol with quiet devotion. His vest was worn and tattered, and a pair of glasses sat askew on his nose. What struck the young Sunil Madhav Sen was not his appearance, but the serene, almost sacred atmosphere that surrounded the sculptor.
Ananta Patua, the sculptor whose house was in Bishnupur, was deeply immersed in crafting clay idols of Shiva and Gouri while chanting a devotional verse. Shiva’s unfinished form and Gouri’s raw intensity left Sunil Madhav Sen spellbound. On his solitary walk home, he reflected deeply on the sculptor’s artistry and felt a transformation within himself, as if something inside him like clay awaited its own shaping. After returning home, he took a piece of charcoal and began sketching the Shiva-Gauri idol on the white wall of his house, as he had seen it that afternoon. It was his Dadamoshai (grandfather) who first discovered the hidden talent of Sunil Madhav Sen upon seeing that charcoal drawing. The very next day, his Dadamoshai appointed a drawing teacher named Asit Dasgupta to guide him. This marked the beginning of his creative journey.
Composition by Sunil Madhav Sen, Mixed Media on Paper
Sunil Madhav Sen was deeply attracted by the environment of Rarh Bengal - with its red soil, ancient temples, clay toys and simple village culture. His creativity was deeply rooted in the everyday life and vibrant energy of rural Bengal. Every single aspect of Rarh Bengal - its environment, people - had a deep impact on his creative sphere, especially Ananta Patua and his idol making was the main source of inspiration for Sunil Madhav Sen. In Prasanta Daw’s book it is clearly written that often Sunil Madhav mentioned,
I still can’t forget that enchanting idol I saw in my childhood. I have seen so many artworks, created so many paintings, yet it feels like nothing compares to that. It is the memories of those twelve years in Bankura that have shaped me into the Sunil Madhav Sen of today.
Ultimately, Sunil Madhav Sen’s artistic journey remained inseparable from the land that shaped him. The Rarh Bengal - with its people, its landscape, and its layered cultural memory was not just his subject, but it was his enduring muse. That’s why his works has a deep resonance with the tribal rhythms, the folk traditions, and the everyday grace of rural life. Whether capturing the searing red of Palash blossoms in Spring, or the textured silence of shadowed hills, his brush revealed a Bengal both timeless and intimate. So, it is quite appropriate to say that like a vivid canvas, Sunil Madhav Sen’s works offer a soulful tribute to the essence of Bengal - honest, earthy and eternal.
REFERENCE
Sunil Madhav Sen er Rooplok, Prasanta Daw, Bharbi Prakashani (সুনীল মাধব সেনের রূপলোক - প্রশান্ত দাঁ)
