Educated at Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan, Dharmanarayan Dasgupta (1939-1998), travelled many paths, in his search for a vocabulary, Western surrealist imagery fascinated him, especially of Marc Chagall. But the artist soon discovered that the concept of fantasy has always been there in the Indian artistic tradition. With this realization emerged Dharmanarayan’s own style and imagery. He began to use the traditional tempera medium to paint small pictures. He adapted stylistic elements from the 19th century Kalighat patachitra tradition. Like the Kalighat painters, he uses elements of humour and satire to express his views of contemporary life. The dream-like quality in his paintings, floating Bengali babu’s and their bibi’s, his use of fantastic imagery and unusual choice of brilliant colours like purples, pinks and greens gives his paintings a quaint charm.Educated at Kala Bhavan, Shantiniketan, Dharmanarayan Dasgupta (1939-1998), travelled many paths, in his search for a vocabulary, Western surrealist imagery fascinated him, especially of Marc Chagall. But the artist soon discovered that the concept of fantasy has always been there in the Indian artistic tradition. With this realization emerged Dharmanarayan’s own style and imagery. He began to use the traditional tempera medium to paint small pictures. He adapted stylistic elements from the 19th century Kalighat patachitra tradition. Like the Kalighat painters, he uses elements of humour and satire to express his views of contemporary life. The dream-like quality in his paintings, floating Bengali babu’s and their bibi’s, his use of fantastic imagery and unusual choice of brilliant colours like purples, pinks and greens gives his paintings a quaint charm.