[Watch Interview] Sultan: The master painter

A bohemian and mystic, SM Sultan’s works delve deep into rural life -- especially peasants, fishermen, day labourers and their simple lives. His paintings visually narrate stories of rural households, where men and women are seen immersed in chores and farmers toiling in the fields. His figures are muscular and powerful, denoting a sense of prosperity -- a vision the artist had for rural Bengal. Sultan drew male figures influenced by the European Renaissance tradition, while his women -- buxom and curvaceous -- belong to the old Indian tradition. Tiny huts and villages are also seen in the paintings.

SM Sultan was born in 1923 in Masimdia, Narail district. After merely five years of schooling in Victoria Collegiate School in Narail, he joined his father to work as a mason. At one stage, he joined the Calcutta Art School but left the institute without completing his degree.

August 10 marked the 90th birth anniversary of SM Sultan.

About him, artist Samarjit Roy Chowdhury said, “Sultan was not only a globally renowned artist but also a philanthropist. When I was enrolled at Dhaka Art College (now Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka) in 1955, the college was in Segun Bagicha and Sultan lived in a tiny room behind the college. He frequently visited the institute. He always had a flute with him.”

Artist Syed Abdullah Khalid said, “On a first impression of Sultan’s paintings, one gets the impression of strength and vigour. His canvas is huge and denotes the harmony, simplicity and integrity of villagers. He was a good-natured secular person. He had the rare ability to quickly become the centre of attention at any social and cultural gathering.”

Mohammad Eunus, Professor of Graphic Design Department, Faculty of fine Arts, said, “A bachelor and spiritualist, Sultan stayed in a bucolic environment at Narail. He lived with an adopted family and pets. He liked the company of children which encouraged him to do several projects for children. He later built a mini-zoo at his home.”

Sultan received the Ekushey Padak, Swadhinata Padak, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Padak and other prestigious awards.

The master painter died in 1994.

Gifted filmmaker Tareque Masud made his first documentary about SM Sultan, of who he was an ardent fan, in 1989. The 54-minute film, titled “Adam Surat”, took seven years to make, and is a treasure trove of visuals of Sultan’s Narail home, his cultural impact, and his thoughts about the country’s peasants and how they become the central focus of his work. Watch a montage of clips from the film here: