Untitled

Artist: Arup Das
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Size: 18 × 18 inches (45.72 × 45.72 cm)
Year: 1970

This evocative painting portrays a creature, seemingly a lion or a similar beast, rendered in a highly expressive, semi-abstract style. The work is rich in texture, dynamic in form, and emotionally charged, demonstrating the artist’s ability to merge raw power with painterly sophistication. The figure of the beast, crouched and roaring upwards, commands the composition. It is not represented in strict realism, but through an amalgamation of vigorous brushstrokes, impasto textures, and distorted anatomy. The dominant hues, ochres, burnt sienna, deep reds, and earthy browns, emphasize both the physical strength and internal torment of the creature. A closer look reveals the artist's intricate layering technique, where colors blend and clash, creating a visceral, almost violent surface that enhances the emotional intensity.

This painting particularly compelling is the tension between the animalistic form and the abstract treatment. The lion is simultaneously recognizable and fragmented. Its head is thrown back in what seems like a howl or roar, conveying anguish, strength, or defiance. The limbs are muscular, yet chaotic, with distorted proportions that resist classical anatomy. The body seems to emerge from, or dissolve into, the background, a swirling environment of shadow, decay, and fire-like tones.

The background does not serve as a simple backdrop; instead, it acts as an extension of the lion’s emotional state. The dark, smoky patches and aggressive swipes of pigment contribute to a sense of unrest and inner turmoil. The indistinct boundaries between figure and ground suggest the lion is both part of and trapped within its world, a metaphor for suffering, struggle, or existential crisis.

This work resonates with expressionist influences, recalling the emotional directness of artists like Francis Bacon or Tyeb Mehta. The focus is not on beauty but on raw feeling, on depicting an emotional truth rather than a literal one. The lion becomes a symbol, perhaps of rage, resistance, or the human spirit caught in the chaos of existence. Signed at the bottom right, the artist's signature anchors the piece, reminding us of the hand behind the creation. The year next to the signature, “1970,” places the work in a period when Indian modernism was thriving with bold experimentation. This painting is a powerful expression of struggle, energy, and catharsis, where the boundaries between form and emotion dissolve into a dramatic visual experience.