This 1957 painting, created during Bangdel’s Paris years, is part of a series of nudes that explore form, emotion, and intimacy with rare grace. While Paris provided artistic freedom and exposure to European masters, Bangdel’s inner world remained tethered to his wife, Manu, who was working in London at the time. Their long-distance relationship, marked by separation and longing, found quiet resolution in this work.
Though the subject is unnamed and rendered in classical repose, her features—graceful posture, delicate hands, and tranquil expression—bear a strong resemblance to Manu. Rather than objectify, Bangdel elevates. The nude is not eroticized but idealized, imbued with tenderness and respect. She sits calmly against a soft abstract background, surrounded by hues of celadon, lavender, and ochre that mirror the emotional hues of memory and desire. This painting serves as a private letter in oil—a meditation on love sustained across distance, and a tribute to the woman who remained the heart of his artistic and emotional life.
Details
- Title : Nude Series
- Year : 1957
- Artist : Lain Singh Bangdel
- Classification : Painting
- Medium : Oil on canvas
- Dimension : Size 35 × 31 9/10 in | 89 × 81 cm, Framed Size 36 1/5 × 33 1/10 in | 92 × 84 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