Born in 1935 in Santiniketan, Sanat Kar was renowned for his surrealistic imagery, shedding light, in his own words, on the profound and shadowy recesses of the mind Having graduated from the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Calcutta in 1955, Kar's early pieces, such as Dreams, Ikebana, Leaves, and Maya, reflect his fascination with nature and fantasy However, his exploration of the language of reverie dominates most of his works

In contrast to many of his contemporaries who embraced stark depictions of social realism, Kar's dream-like vocabulary possesses social relevance, serving as an image poised towards revolutionary change Some of his earlier oil works straddle the boundary between formal play and social commentary Yet, regardless of the medium, the core sentiment in his chosen subjects remains dark, brooding, and sombre, encapsulating the cyclical nature of life

While Kar created oil paintings and bronze cast sculptures, he was particularly recognized for his innovation and sensitivity as a printmaker, especially in wood and cardboard intaglios His prints exude a fine, lyrical quality In the 1980s, he expanded his artistic repertoire by venturing into tempera painting

A founding member of the Society of Contemporary Artists, Kar extended his influence as a noteworthy teacher of printmaking and an educational administrator at Kala Bhavana, Santiniketan He received accolades such as the West Bengal State Lalit Kala Akademi award in 1993 and the Kala Vibhushan award in 1997 Kar also exhibited his works extensively in India and abroad

The artist passed away in 2023