Bengal School, 20th century Untitled

depicting, a, contemplative, male, figure, seated, beneath, large, gnarled, tree, with, lush, green, foliage, dressed, in, flowing, ochre-yellow, robes, depicting a contemplative male figure seated beneath a large, gnarled tree with lush green foliage, dressed in flowing ochre-yellow robes, a lozenge seal l.r., watercolour and wash on paper, image 33 x 23.5cm; framed and glazed, This painting’s technique is often associated with the Bengal School wash method, in which successive layers of pigment create a soft, atmospheric effect, here rendered in a muted palette of dusty rose, ochre and sage. The handling, however, is somewhat unusual for the Calcutta wing of the movement. Rather than the riverine scenery commonly associated with Bengal, the composition depicts a broad, relatively flat plain beneath a striated, coral-coloured horizon, with a line of distant palms. This topography seems more aligned with the Punjab hills or the upper Gangetic plain. Interestingly, the painted seal within a cartouche in the lower right corner is indicative of an undeniable Japanese influence. The use of red seal-marks entered the Bengal School movement’s artistic milieu through exchanges associated with Okakura Kakuzō’s visit to India and the subsequent presence of Yokoyama Taikan and Hishida Shunsō in Calcutta. Artists working within this circle adopted such marks, sometimes alongside, and sometimes in place of, conventional signatures. The form of the present seal may therefore reflect the wider Japanese influence on the Bengal School and its associated artistic networks. Considered together, all the above-mentioned features may point to the wider regional dissemination and adaptation of Bengal School techniques beyond its principal artistic centre in Calcutta. Condition Report, Condition Report, This lot does not have a condition report, if you would like further information, please click the 'Request A Condition Report’ button below. Request A Condition Report, Request A Condition Report

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