Sunil Das Master of Indian Expressionism & Horse Series

Sunil Das

Born in 1939, Sunil Das emerged as a formidable force in Indian art during the 1950s. After studying in Calcutta and Paris, he developed a signature style that merged European academic rigor with a deep, personal fixation on speed and vitality. Over a career spanning six decades, Das became a foundational member of the Society of Contemporary Artists, leaving an indelible mark on the global perception of contemporary Indian drawing.

Biography

Sunil Das’s artistic trajectory was defined by a relentless pursuit of the "line" as a vessel for movement. His formative years at the Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta, and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, provided him with a dual perspective: a technical mastery of anatomy and an exposure to the liberating forces of European modernism. Unlike many of his contemporaries who focused on socio-political narratives, Das turned inward toward the primal. His work often captures a moment of tension—the arch of a horse’s neck or the charging momentum of a bull—rendered with a frantic yet controlled urgency. This focus positioned him as a unique bridge between traditional figurative studies and the expressive abstraction of the late 20th century.

Key Dates & Activity

  • Date of Birth: August 4, 1939
  • Date of Death: August 10, 2015
  • Years Active: c. 1955–2015

Education / Training

  • Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta: Diploma in Painting (1954–1959).
  • École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts, Paris: Studied on a French Government Scholarship (1961–1963), specializing in graphics and painting.

Artistic Style

  • Expressionism; Post-Modernism; Figurative Abstraction.
  • Characterized by vigorous, gestural draughtsmanship and a monochromatic palette.

Themes / Subjects

  • Equine and bovine studies (Horses and Bulls).
  • Human psychology and the "Woman" series (later career).
  • Macabre and surrealist imagery (influenced by his time in Paris).
  • Speed, power, and physical kinesis.

Exhibitions

  • Biennale de Paris: 1961 (Awarded the Prix de la Ville de Paris).
  • Documenta, Kassel: Participant in the 1960s.
  • Sao Paulo Biennale: Represented India in 1967.
  • National Exhibition of Art: Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (Multiple participations).
  • Retrospectives: Numerous solo exhibitions held at the Jehangir Art Gallery (Mumbai) and ITC Sangeet Research Academy.

Awards / Recognition

  • Padma Shri: Awarded by the Government of India (2014).
  • Prix de la Ville de Paris: 1961.
  • National Award: Lalit Kala Akademi (1959).
  • Shiromani Puraskar: 1991.

Collections / Institutional Presence

  • National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi.
  • Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi.
  • Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.
  • Glenbarra Art Museum, Japan.
  • Ludwig Museum, Germany.

Primary Medium

  • Charcoal on Canvas
  • Mixed Media on Canvas.

Selected Works By Sunil Das

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