Santosh Chattopadhyay’s Connection
Indian contemporary artist Santosh Chattopadhyay’s use of bright blues, yellows, reds and oranges highlight an incredibly intimate and peaceful scene. It seems like the spectator has trespassed upon an intensely private moment between these two figures. However, the use of these bright colours puts you at ease, to gaze a while on this bright and emotive scene.
The intense blue washes over like a wave. It insights a trust and a confidence between the two figures and a feeling of hyperactivity and giddiness in the viewer. The orange also engages a sort of fascination within the spectator. What is their relationship? Is there a secret being whispered to the other? While the blue and orange bring the viewer further into this picture, the red is there to remind us that these moments are fleeting. Red can symbolize love but it can also signify danger. These moments are short lived and although our lives can be filled with many of these stolen glances, they are never the same. Like the butterfly effect, and the butterflies in this piece, every moment is precious and unique.
Oh what a treat it is, to be so calm and at peace with another human being. Eyes closed, enjoying the serenity around them. To fit together for one single perfect moment. This painting freezes this interaction for eternity. It can be looked at as a something that is happening this very second, or as a memory, one which is cherished for a lifetime. This piece can be interpreted as a warning to never overlook the simple things. The big gestures will become a vague memory but moments like this, the smell of someone’s skin, touch, how you feel at that exact moment in time. These will never be forgotten. They remind us of a shared sense of connection with our emotions, our memories, and for one moment we can image that we were part of something bigger than ourselves.
What do you think of this image?
Sir Santosh chattopadhyay’s paintings are amazing. He is a blessed soul. I’m a great follower of his paintings. He is so humble n simple in person too. God bless him. Looking forward to see more of his amazing paintings.
I love how you have married the various uses of color in Chattopadhyay’s piece to illustrate the complexity and multiplicity of human emotions!
Thank you so much Anna, it is truly an amazing piece!
I think this is about the three phases of a day. Chattopadhyay is a Brahmin name. A Brahmin offers prayers three times a day. This painting depicts those three phases.
Phase 1: the face on the left is different from that of its right in three parameters. The first is the golden hue across its left cheek. The rise of a new day. The twilight of an early morning with golden hue holds the forecast of a clear day. The telling tale is the Surya Bindu (the half-moon shaped dotting smear at the centre of its forehead. The angular, sharp, and energetic edges of the face – is the second telltale sign.
Phase 2: The divide between morning and afternoon. The precise moment at which morning is done with and evening – yet to begin. The butterflies are up and about just like morning shift handing over its day’s reins to the evening shift.
Phase 3: This is about after four in the evening and before six. The twilight in the evening retains the gold, partially though, just like the moon draws its luminescence from the sun. The four o’ clock shadow is shown beautifully on the left cheek of the face to the right. Notice the curved contours and tilted profile of the face to the right. It is relaxed and so is its angle towards reminiscing how the day went.
In terms of Sanskrit, it is called Suryayan to Chandrayan. All paintings of Santosh Chattopadhyay can be explained using these bright hues of golden yellow, scintillating red and calming blue.