Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Rabin Mondal was born in Howrah, Kolkata. Mondal completed his Bachelor of Commerce at Vidyasagar College, Kolkata University, Kolkata in 1952. Mondal attended evening classes at Indian College of Art and Draughtsmanship, Kolkata 1956–58. Mondal completed his Art Appreciation Course, Ashutosh Museum, Kolkata University, Kolkata in 1959. The industrial belt of Howrah, with its inherent tendency towards violence, anguish and suffering influenced Mondal deeply and found its way into his works. So did ugly street battles fought by political parties. Mondal discovered that his artistic temperament was out of keeping with the hostile environment and situation. Besides a debilitating knee injury in his childhood created a sense of isolation in the artist, which also finds expression in his canvas. Mondal says what saved him from sheer madness was his talent in art. In 1949, he joined the Vidyasagar College of Art in Kolkata. At that time, a festival of French artists was being held in the city. It exposed him to the works of French modernist artists. Before this, he had no exposure to the international art world. Mondal was only familiar with different schools of Indian art, particularly the Bengal school. As a young painter, Mondal was attracted by Jamini Roy`s folk style and Rabindranath Tagore`s disquieting paintings and drawings. But the show by French artists was virtually a turning point in his artistic career. "This was like opening a window to an astounding, astonishing, unsuspected world," he says. This encounter with avant-garde Western art helped him to later incorporate elements from it in his work. Mondal worked out of his Howrah studio, churning out a series of kings and queens painted with oil on canvas. These are perhaps Mondal’s best-known works, depicting tragic looking figures, seemingly suffering from paranoia and fear, yet ironically termed kings and queens. Some of the highlights of this series were the works Man Acting as King, King Being Appeased, King Making Confession and King and his Assassin. Mondal also produced a series of deities, which sometimes seem to merge thematically with his queens. His deities are generally depicted with radiate crowns, whereas his kings and queens are not. Other favorite subjects of Mondal were the brothel and the harem, which he depicted in canvases such as the Event in the Red Light Area and Orgy. For someone who hates all forms of pretentiousness, he has done a series of paintings on queens and empresses. "Though they belong to the past, queens live in virtual isolation, and I feel sorry for them," he says. "It is this isolation that makes the queen, for me, a fascinating subject." One of the criticisms leveled against him is that his works are not pleasing to the eye. To which he replies, "Painting is for communication and not for decoration." Mondal has had several solo and group exhibitions. Mondal was awarded "Eminent Painter," All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi in 1996 and "Abanindranath Puraskar," awarded by the Department of Information and Culture, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata in 2001.
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Paper
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
1990s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Paper, Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Paper
1970s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Watercolor, Paper
Early 2000s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Oil, Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Cubist Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Foam Board
Artist Comments
In artist Gail Ragains' figurative piece, a woman takes a breather on the beach. She reclines comfortably on a green chair, in a mix of gestural marks within a thought-out composition. The muted color combination allows the warm and cool shades to play off each other.
About the Artist
Artist Gail Ragains paints abstract figurative works defined by strong color combinations and intuitive mark-making. "I approach each creative process as an open-ended improvisation," says Gail. "It is an evolving journey without preconceived plans for a predictable outcome. I react to the materials at hand, stripping away the non-essentials to give a loose interpretation of form, movement, and human expression." Inspired by the physical gestures and emotions of people, the human figure dominates Gail's art. As a young person, Gail was active in dance, ice skating, and gymnastics and competed in triathlons in her 20s. While pursuing a career as a massage therapist for 25 years, Gail simultaneously attended art classes through community colleges, the local Art League, and workshops with artists she admires. Having lived in California her entire life, Gail is influenced by the California colors—golden hills, clear blue skies, swimsuits, and swimming pools. Today, her studio is in her backyard just a few steps away from the home she shares with her husband. “In this workspace, I have everything I need. Good light, music, fresh air, and my studio mate, Sadie, the cutest 14 lb. mixed-breed rescue pup.â€
Words that describe this painting: figure, figurative, people, Richard Diebenkorn, gestural, expressive, colorful, beach, sand, paper, acrylicpaint, portrait, expressionism, people, acrylic painting, beige
Beach Chair...
21st Century and Contemporary Abstract Expressionist Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
Late 20th Century Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic, Illustration Board
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Gesso, Paint, Oil, Acrylic, Board
2010s Other Art Style Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard
20th Century American Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Alkyd, Illustration Board
Artist Comments
This painting portrays a woman with an ambiguous expression, adding a mysterious mood to the piece. The blue streaks in her hair and the shadow on her face crea...
21st Century and Contemporary Expressionist Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Tape, Acrylic, Archival Paper
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Gouache, Board, Mixed Media
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Oil, Archival Paper, Acrylic
2010s Other Art Style Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Cardboard
2010s Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Canvas, Acrylic
Early 2000s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Paper, Ink
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Board
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic, Oil, Canvas
2010s Modern Rabin Mondal Figurative Paintings
Acrylic