Bijan Choudhary (1931 - 2012)

K. Singh ed., Manifestations VII, 75 Artists: 20th Century Indian Art, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, 2012, illustrated p. 47

Buckling to the canvas/Canvases are not tightly stretch/This work could benefit from re-stretching. Minor losses and faint craquelure at edges and corners of both canvases. Faint, diagonal scratch at upper right edge. Areas of abrasion at left side not visible in the catalog illustration, example at the top right side of figure's feet. 1 inch indentation with loss at bottom left of feet. 2 inch diagonal scratch with slight flaking at top edge of the left canvas. Scratches at lower right edge of left canvas, with slight flaking. Faint craquelure at right side of left canvas, center. Scattered, pinhole sized brown spots throughout the surface of the work, not visible in the catalog illustration. Frame: Nicks, scratches and abrasions at edges.
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 Bijan Choudhary’s Marxist beliefs are prevalent in his practice. His expulsion from the Government College of Arts and Craft, Kolkata in 1950 was a direct result of his politically motivated actions. Choudhary later graduated from the Government Institute of Arts in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

His subjects are often painted in a realist manner set within fantastical surroundings, echoing a strong communist aesthetic. He rejected abstractionism stating, “I do not believe that art can exist bereft of man.” (K. Singh ed., Manifestations VII, 75 Artists: 20th Century Indian Art, New Delhi, Delhi Art Gallery, 2012, p. 46) This painting depicts a heroic scene, a subject often adopted by Choudhary. The muscular crucified protagonist is as an allegorical figure, signifying the strength and beauty of the people quashed under tyranical oppression. The diptych also contains two contrasting images on either side of the central figure; fearful hidden onlookers on the left, and an equally passive cubist town scene on the right. This is a deliberate artistic contradiction employed by Choudhary to focus the viewer on the pervasiveness of poverty, injustice and prejudice.