(Social) Realism: Nepal

Dil Bahadur Chitrakar (1929)
Dil Bahadur Chitrakar, one of the senior most painters of Nepal, is almost like a legendary bright star in the realm of Nepali art today.

Born in 1929 AD, and brought up in a 'Chitrakar' family- a community historically associated with the art of painting, he began to learn art at a very tender age. With an initial guidance from his father Jagat Bahadur and later, with further grooming under Tej Bahadur Chitrakar– an iconic name in Nepali painting, Dil Bahadur's emergence as talented artist was phenomenal. As an artist, Dil Bahadur's career presents an interesting mosaic of versatility, begun as an art teacher in 1945 AD in local school, his job experience varied from a textile designer to a senior illustrator in Government text book house(Janak Education Materials Center). During this period, he has had a unique opportunity to peep into a wider world of European Art in places like London, Paris, Rome and many other famous cities of Europe. After encountering the works of great masters like Rembrandt, Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin and many others, he suddenly found himself woken to a new reality and decided to immerse into a task of creating and introducing new forms into the country. The result was amazing array of works with native forms but with European touch and taste. He held his first one man show of painting in 1964 AD, at the legendary Max Art Gallery, Kathmandu. He also, remained an active participant in many of the group shows.

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World (Social) Realist Art (Index of Countries)
This blog page is part of an ongoing project by artist and part-time lecturer Caoimhghin Ó Croidheáin (http://gaelart.net/) to explore Realist / Social Realist art from around the world. The term Realism is used in its broadest sense to include 19th century Realism and Naturalism as well as 20th century Impressionism (which after all was following in the path of Courbet and Millet). Social Realism covers art that seeks to examine the living and working conditions of ordinary people (examples include German Expressionism, American Ashcan School and the Mexican Muralists).

Click here for (Social) Realist Art Definitions, World (Social) Realism and Global Solidarity, Art and Politics, Social Realism in history and Country Index.

Suggestions for appropriate artists from around the world welcome to caoimhghin@yahoo.com.