SANYAL, B. C.
UNTITLED (IN THE FOREST)
Year: 1993
Image Size: 28 x 34.8 cm (11 x 13.7 inches)
Mount/Sheet Size: 43 x 46.2 cm (16.9 x 18 inches)
Frame Size: 45.5 x 48.7 cm (17.9 x 18.8 inches)
Signed and dated by the artistSigned and dated 'B. Sanyal 93' (lower left)
Provenance : Collection of a Lady, New Delhi
Gifted by the Artist to her, 1994.
Accompanied by a handwritten letter from Present owner confirming that the present lot was personally gifted to her by the artist B.C. Sanyal in 1994 and has remained in her possession since. This letter serves as primary source provenance and authenticity documentation.
This delicate watercolour by B. C. Sanyal unfolds like a poetic meditation on nature, human intimacy, and probably the timeless narrative of 'Adam and Eve'. Rendered in Sanyal’s characteristically lyrical brushwork, the composition places two gently modelled, almost ethereal human figures in the heart of a lush forest. Their faces are softened to near–anonymity, suggesting archetypal beings rather than individual portraits, which aligns with the allegory. The woman stands frontally while the man leans toward her in a tender, protective gesture, an echo of the primordial pair discovering themselves and the world around them.
The natural environment becomes the true protagonist: slender tree trunks, sinuous branches, and foliage painted in vivid greens and warm ochres envelop the figures in an Eden-like sanctuary. Sanyal infuses the scene with a sense of harmony through his fluid washes and transparent layers, while the autumnal red leaves introduce a subtle note of drama hinting at temptation, awakening, and the fragile balance between innocence and experience. The interplay of controlled line and free, blooming colour washes reflects Sanyal’s mastery of watercolour and his lifelong reverence for nature as both subject and metaphor.
Provenance : Collection of a Lady, New Delhi
Gifted by the Artist to her, 1994.
About Artist
Bhabesh Chandra Sanyal (1901–2003)
B.C. Sanyal was a foundational figure in modern Indian art whose seven-decade career shaped the direction of 20th-century Indian modernism. Trained at the Government College of Art & Craft, Calcutta, he gained early…...Read More
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This is an auction of pre-owned and old items. Many items are of an age or nature which precludes their being in perfect condition and you should expect general wear and tear commensurate with age and use.
We strongly advise you to examine items before you bid.
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