Artist: Paritosh Sen
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
Size: 20 x 16 in (50.8 x 40.6 cm)
Year: 2006
This vibrant still life by Paritosh Sen reflects the artist’s distinctive approach to colour, form, and spatial play. Arranged on a modest table draped with a white cloth, a selection of fruits becomes the central subject, watermelon slices, mangoes, citrus, and small red berries, rendered in bold outlines and lively hues. The composition transforms an everyday arrangement into a dynamic visual experience.
Sen’s painterly language is immediately recognizable in the expressive brushwork and the slightly exaggerated contours of the objects. Rather than striving for photographic realism, he simplifies forms and accentuates their shapes, allowing colour to carry much of the visual energy. The bright reds, oranges, and greens create a vivid contrast against the expansive green background, lending the work both warmth and immediacy.
A striking element in the painting is the overhead lamp, positioned above the arrangement. Its radiating lines suggest illumination, subtly directing the viewer’s gaze toward the fruits below. This device introduces a theatrical quality, as if the objects are momentarily placed under a spotlight.
The loosely rendered tablecloth adds texture and movement, balancing the solidity of the fruit forms. Through this interplay of colour, line, and light, Sen elevates a simple still life into an engaging composition. The work captures a sense of spontaneity and vitality, revealing the artist’s enduring fascination with ordinary objects transformed through imaginative vision.
