Untitled

Artist: Shyamal Mukherjee
Medium: Reverse Acrylic on Acrylic Sheet
Size: 36 × 36 inches (91.44 × 91.44 cm)
Year: 2010

In this richly detailed painting by Shyamal Mukherjee, rendered in his signature reverse acrylic on acrylic sheet technique, two central figures, likely a woman and a man, are presented in a whimsical, folk-inspired style that fuses cultural specificity with expressive charm.

On the left, a seated woman occupies a raised, dark green chair-like structure. Her posture and expression suggest a sense of engagement or conversation. She wears a vibrant red sari or traditional dress adorned with dark detailing and delicate patterning, creating a sense of texture and movement. Her skin is painted in warm brownish-tan tones, and her facial features, large, almond-shaped eyes and a slightly open mouth, are stylized and exaggerated, characteristic of Mukherjee’s visual language. She is accessorized with jewelry including earrings and bracelets, and her hands are given particular emphasis, with painted fingernails and expressive fingers that convey personality and gesture.

Opposite her, another figure, male is seated comfortably, clad in a similarly red-toned robe speckled with red and white dots. His expression is gentle and reflective, captured with a wide, endearing smile beneath a pair of rounded glasses. His features echo those of the woman, suggesting a shared cultural context or relational bond. In front of him rests a deep blue bowl filled with roasted nuts or a similar edible, grounding the scene in a domestic or everyday setting. The object becomes both a compositional anchor and a subtle nod to shared rituals and hospitality.

Between the two figures stands a green, column-like decorative element, adding symmetry and formality to the composition. In the background, a red, hat-like object hovers, perhaps a symbolic or cultural motif, further enriching the narrative potential of the work. The background, rendered in a soft beige or tan hue, allows the vivid reds and dark greens to pop, highlighting Mukherjee’s skill in balancing bold color with delicate detail.

The effect is one of narrative intimacy and playful exaggeration. Mukherjee’s painting embraces the aesthetics of caricature and folk art, not to mock but to celebrate: the forms, garments, gestures, and objects all point to shared cultural memory and storytelling. His distinctive technique on acrylic sheet offers a luminous surface that amplifies the artwork’s visual energy, creating a work that is both spirited and deeply rooted in tradition.