SUHAS ROY ( b.1936 - 2016) born in Bengal, Roy trained at the Indian College of Art and Draughtsmanship, Calcutta and later on a French Government Scholarship at Atelier 17, France. Roy has exhibited widely in India and abroad, participating in such major international exhibitions as: International Youth Art, Prague (1956), Paris (1965, 1966), Tokyo Print Biennale (1970), Contemporary Indian Art, Belgrade, Budapest and Prague (1971), III Triennale, New Delhi (1975). At present, Roy is Head of the Department of Painting at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan. He lives and works in Kolkata. Looking at the refined imagery of his Radhas in tempera, one is transported to the world of the pre-Raphaelite painter, Gabriel Rossetti. For, like Rosetti, as in Suhas, 'true to nature' means saturating realism %u201Cwith an electric charge of romantic, semi-mystical fantasy, whereby his imagery of voluptuous long tressed Radhas entwined by decorative floral vines reflects a vision redolent with hidden meaning and sensuality. "The dark side of humanity and cruelty is what leads me in my search of the unknown" Suhas Roy's preoccupation is primarily with the female face and form, and his subjects are romanticized, inhabiting the dreamlike world between sensuality and innocence. His work is usually inspired by life around him, but his themes are as much influenced by the everyday world as they are rooted in fantasy. The vast and complex texture of life is seen as mystical and dark in his work. The mystical flavour of his works arose from his interpretations of the 'unknown'. It is his craftsmanship and consummate skill that ensure that his richly romantic subjects do not touch extreme syrupy and stereotypical portrayals. Instead, their very patent beauty veers towards melancholic grace and elegance. This graceful portrayal of his subjects has much to do with his choice of materials - his crayons, charcoal and brush have sensitivity and refinement.