Few themes held as much emotional gravity for Lain Singh Bangdel as that of mother and child. Having lost his own mother at just eighteen months of age, the maternal bond remained a central absence—and later, a recurring presence—in his art. While he was lovingly raised by his grandmother, the ache of this loss never left him. In Mother and Child, painted in 1966, Bangdel offers not a memory but a living reality: the quiet, protective embrace of his wife, Manu, and their three-year-old daughter, Dina. The composition is intimate and grounded. The mother sits cross-legged, cradling the child whose small arms cling around her neck. Their forms are fused in affection, rendered in rich, warm tones—deep reds, gentle blues, and ochres—set against a softly glowing background. This painting is not just a portrait of domestic love; it is a healing image. It reflects Bangdel’s emotional journey from loss to restoration, from memory to presence. Through it, he honors not only the mother he barely knew but also the family he cherished deeply.
Details
- Title : Mother and Child
- Year : 1966
- Artist : Lain Singh Bangdel
- Classification : Painting
- Medium : Oil on canvas
- Dimension : Size 19 7/10 × 16 1/2 in | 50 × 42 cm, Framed Size 28 3/10 × 25 1/5 in | 72 × 64 cm
- Collection : Tansbao Gallery
- Credit Line : Tansbao Gallery
- Acquisition Method : Actioned
- Status : 2- 5 Sept 2026 I For sale I Tansbao Gallery I On Hold