Painted in 1955, Madan in Nostalgia is Bangdel’s intimate response to the literary figure of Madan from Laxmi Prasad Devkota’s Muna Madan, a tale of love, loss, and longing. Rendered during his time in Paris, the image resonates not only with the text but also with the artist’s own life—mirroring his emotional reality as he endured separation from his beloved wife, Manu, who was working in London. Madan is depicted seated and inward-facing, swathed in warm yellows and earth tones that contrast with the gray-blue of his limbs. His pose is pensive, his gaze withdrawn. The brushwork around him creates an atmosphere of quiet desolation, while a soft green trace at the edge hints at distant hope. The painting is not simply an illustration of a literary figure—it is a self-portrait in disguise, expressing Bangdel’s own vulnerability and endurance.
Details
- Title : Madan in Nostalgia
- Year : 1955
- Artist : Lain Singh Bangdel
- Classification : Painting
- Medium : Oil on canvas
- Dimension : Size 29 9/10 × 22 4/5 in | 76 × 58 cm Framed Size 38 3/5 × 31 1/2 in | 98 × 80 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 On Hold