Untitled – 9993

Anand Panchal

Anand Panchal was born in Latur, Maharashtra in 1937 and is a critically acclaimed artist who studied at the J.J School of Art in Mumbai.

The village is the backdrop for the works of Anand Panchal. More than many artists, Panchal embraces a highly narrative style, unfolding stories of rural life through his paintings. Lyrical, rustic worlds take centre stage in Panchal’s acrylics on canvas. His incandescent art documents the enduring soul of India, as seen in its indigenous culture, beliefs and traditions.

A recurring figure in his paintings is of a small girl. He describes her as the daughter of a farmer, who is very eager to pursue her education, but is prevented from doing so by circumstances. He recalls growing up in a rural town, and seeing doctors and lawyers occasionally passing through: We would admire these people, but we would never know how they became what they are. Asked why he chose to paint a young girl over a boy, he explains that he finds female faces most expressive, registering a range of emotions that vanish by adolescence.