In Self Portrait (1952), Lain Singh Bangdel declares his arrival—not only in Paris, the heart of the global art world, but also on the canvas of modernism itself. Freshly admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts, Bangdel had realized a long-held dream. This portrait serves as both personal milestone and artistic manifesto.
The figure, slender and composed, holds a brush in one hand and palette in the other. The gaze is thoughtful yet confident; the slight smile suggests both humility and inner satisfaction. The brushwork is loose but deliberate, and the color palette—muted greys, lavenders, and subtle blues—allows the focus to rest on expression and gesture. The stance is open, as if inviting the viewer to witness the beginning of a journey.
What makes this portrait striking is its tone: it is not boastful, but hopeful. It captures a moment of joyful determination, when the future was still unwritten but fully believed in. Self Portrait (1952) is not only a record of a young man with artistic ambition—it is a portrait of faith in one’s calling.
Details
- Title : Self Portrait
- Year : 1952
- Artist : Lain Singh Bangdel
- Classification : Painting
- Medium : Oil on canvas
- Dimension : Size 42 1/10 × 33 9/10 in | 107 × 86 cm Framed Size 43 3/10 × 35 in | 110 × 89 cm
- Collection : Tansbao Gallery
- Credit Line : Tansbao Gallery
- Acquisition Method : Actioned
- Status : Frieze Seoul I 2- 5 Sept 2026 I For sale I Tansbao Gallery I Oh Hold