JYOTI A KATHPALIA on PRATAP DEB's ART EXHIBITION @ VISUAL ARTS GALLERY

This exhibition offered a compelling glimpse into the life and work of the multi-talented artist Pratap Deb, presenting the artistic journey of a man who has versatile painting styles.

Pratap Deb's art journey began in the late 1950s, after he graduated from the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, where he studied art with Sakti Burman and Ganesh Haloi, among others.

He initially worked in a private advertising agency before joining the Government of India, where he continued to nurture his creative spirit by designing advertisements and posters for social development programmes. His travels across India and abroad further enriched his artistic perspective, allowing him to explore and evolve his visual expression.

After retiring from government service, Pratap devoted himself entirely to art. Numbers never drove him—he believed in the power of meaningful creation over volume. As a result, his body of work, though not vast, is deeply thoughtful and resonant.

The exhibition captured the whole arc of his career, from his college years to his final days. It featured oil and acrylic paintings on canvas and board, alongside a large selection of his drawings. These works portray scenes from everyday life, capturing social realities, human emotions, and inner aspirations with sensitivity and depth. His drawings, often created with pencil, pen, and other mediums on ordinary paper, reflect his constant urge to create—many are modest in size but rich in character and spontaneity.