Abode of the Gods

The spatial division of Subba Ghosh’s Abode of the Gods is fascinating, a reminder of how various elements, seen separately, can become a cohesive scene, almost resembling a movie. Ghosh, through an accurate portrayal of the human form and an intense manipulation of light and shade, shows the two main protagonists, an elderly male and a middle-aged female figure, who appear lonely. Ghosh’s sinister looking and ageing cupid draws a sword. In the backdrop are other figures who seem related to the protagonists in some unfathomable way.