Gallery Silver Scpaes
Untitled (Man with a Beard)
Untitled (Man with a Beard)
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Artist: Sunil Madhav Sen
Medium: Mixed Media on Paper
Size: 27 × 17 inches (68.58 × 43.18 cm)
Year: Circa 1950s
This compelling portrait by Sunil Madhav Sen is a striking example of abstract expressionism infused with personal symbolism and visual intensity. Executed in mixed media on paper, the work centers around a boldly rendered figure whose angular face dominates the composition. The visage is a dynamic interplay of shape, color, and texture, an expressive study of identity and emotion conveyed through abstraction rather than realism. The viewer is immediately drawn to the eyes: large, stylized, and exaggerated, they anchor the composition and emanate a psychological depth that transcends the literal.
The face itself is constructed from intersecting planes and vivid, contrasting hues, deep blues, vibrant reds, sunlit yellows, each contour carved out by strong brushstrokes and varied mark-making. These bold chromatic choices heighten the emotional temperature of the piece and contribute to its commanding presence. A thick, richly textured beard or mustache frames the lower part of the face, created through layered strokes that add a sense of depth and tactile complexity. This element, both expressive and ornamental, becomes a central motif in the composition, echoing the artist's interest in merging form with emotive narrative.
Hints of attire or surrounding elements are suggested through geometric shapes and blocks of color, which seem to float around or emerge from the figure, establishing a rhythmic interplay between the subject and the background. Rather than define specific garments or settings, these angular forms offer a sculptural sense of volume and structure, contributing to the work’s layered abstraction. The suggestion of a hat or head covering further adds to the portrait’s enigmatic quality, reinforcing the symbolic nature of the figure’s presentation.
The background, a deep and resonant blue, acts as a stabilizing field against which the vibrant figure is set. It enhances the psychological intensity of the subject while also grounding the composition in an almost spiritual calm. This use of color not only provides contrast but also evokes an emotional atmosphere, a contemplative, introspective space from which the figure emerges. Through simplified shapes, gestural brushwork, and symbolic color, Sunil Madhav Sen creates a portrait that is not bound by physical likeness but instead captures the essence of human expression. It stands as a powerful meditation on character, perception, and the emotive force of the abstracted face, marking Sen as a visionary within the modern Indian art movement.
Why Choose Us
Art has always, naturally, reflected the development and exploration of different thoughts and perceptions, and our current postmodern era is no different. It is interesting to see how art has evolved visually, yet the traditional methods of composing art remain a valid means of expression.
All it takes for an artist to rise above normalcy, is inspiration, which fuels his passion to paint beautiful creations throughout his life.
The valuable expression of art is always there with us, but now this expression is yet to take an interesting diversion with our art gallery, Gallery Silver Scapes, located in Hauz Khas Enclave. Art is no longer considered just decorative but has evolved and come forth as a major form of investment yielding high rates of returns for its buyers, making it an expression commonly used.
Mrs Mayor was walked into the art world by the legendary modernist Bimal Das Gupta, one of whose biggest collections remains with Gallery Silver Scapes. In the 1980s, as head and first curator of the Habiart Gallery founded by Mrs Rekha Modi — a childhood friend — Mrs Mayor worked closely with and curated shows for renowned artists such as A Ramachandran, GR Santosh, Rameshwar Broota, Sakti Burman, MK Bardhan, Dhiraj Chaudhury, M Sivanesan, and Arup Das among others.
Besides modern masters, she also worked with young contemporaries such as Sudip Roy, Paresh Maity, Subroto Kundu, Vinod Sharma, and many more. Artworks commissioned by her are now part of prestigious collections, such as those of the India Habitat Centre, Ranbaxy, Pepsi, Hotel Lalit, Bank of America, and many more private and public collections.