Wood Cut by Haren Das

Artist: Haren Das 

Peace
Medium: Wood Cut
Size: 4.2 × 4.6 inches (10.67 × 11.68 cm)
Year: 1960

Towards the Market
Medium: Wood Cut
Size: 3 × 4 inches (7.62 × 10.16 cm)
Year: 1949

Pigeons Flying
Medium: Wood Cut
Size: 4 × 7 inches (10.16 × 17.78 cm)
Year: 1960

This evocative woodcut triptych, titled Pigeons Flying, Towards the Market, Peace, presents a meditative visual narrative through three distinct yet thematically connected black-and-white prints. Rendered in a refined monochromatic palette, the composition draws upon traditional printmaking techniques to explore themes of community, movement, and harmony with nature. Each image is mounted within a clean white matting system that accentuates the visual rhythm of the collection, offering both contrast and cohesion across the trio.

The top panel features two human figures, likely indigenous, standing along a shoreline. One of them gestures upward, perhaps toward birds in flight or a distant presence, while the other stands in quiet observation. The landscape is minimal and serene, composed of fluid lines and soft textures that suggest water and sky merging at the horizon. This scene introduces a sense of wonder and quiet reflection, establishing a contemplative tone for the entire work.

In the middle print, a group of figures populate a more active landscape, with a mountain rising in the distance. The individuals appear engaged in a communal task or cultural ritual. Their gestural forms, along with the dynamic arrangement of space and background, create a compelling sense of movement and shared purpose. This central image serves as the emotional and narrative heart of the triptych, grounding the work in themes of cultural continuity and the vitality of collective life.

The final panel, placed at the bottom, depicts a flurry of birds, likely pigeons, in flight against a rich, dark backdrop. The birds are stylized, with a patterned, almost rhythmic quality to their depiction. The effect is both dynamic and lyrical, invoking a sense of freedom, transcendence, and peace. As the concluding image in the sequence, it offers a visual metaphor for release and hope, rounding out the triptych's meditative arc.

The three prints create a journey—one that moves from observation to interaction, and ultimately, to transcendence. Through skillful use of line, texture, and negative space, the artist invites viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of people, place, and spirit. The title—Pigeons Flying, Towards the Market, Peace—hints at a layered narrative that is both literal and symbolic, suggesting movement not only through physical space, but also toward understanding and harmony.