Chittaprosad Bhattacharya (1915 - 1978)

Good overall condition. Light discoloration to sky upper center and creasing to page upper right corner.
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Though primarily known for his monochromatic prints, the political satirist Chittraprosad Bhattacharya was destined to develop a rich body of work that portrays his vision of human resilience. He depicts a triumphant dance of the Santhals, an agricultural community inhabiting the territory from the Western districts of Bengal to Central India. This painting recalls the Santhal Rebellion of 1855 when these aboriginals rose against armed money-lenders and policemen, steadfastly claiming birth right to their land for twenty years.

As he utilizes this brilliant palette, he dampens the austerity of his heavy revolutionary theme and delves into a realm of experimental aesthetic styles. The shallow depth of the picture plane presents a stage-like setting for the dance. Dots of sunlight glow and vibrate on the floor beneath the dancers and in large areas of the leaves, showing off a venture into impressionistic territory. However, the work engenders a familiar style, as the figures are thickly outlined and cartoon-like. He further enhances his graphic quality through color-blocking and three-dimensionality. His captivation for Javanese puppet theatre provides a tribal dimension to the figures whose movements are stiff and simple, yet powerfully dramatic.