Bhupen Khakhar's "Trade Series"

The early 1970s marked a transformative period in Bhupen Khakhar's artistic evolution. Around 1972, Khakhar began developing a distinctive visual language focused on portraying the everyday lives of ordinary men. This shift culminated in his renowned "Trade Series" - a collection of paintings that resemble large, marquee-style portraits of individuals engaged in various professions, reminiscent of eighteenth-century Company School paintings. Art critic Timothy Hyman notes that Khakhar ventured into an unprecedented artistic realm, capturing the essence of a half-westernized, half-urbanized modern India. His unique position working as an accountant while engaging intimately with a diverse range of human experiences allowed him to present a vivid portrayal of Indian life. Khakhar's "Trade Series" represents a profound departure from traditional artistic confines, effectively dissolving the barrier between studio art and everyday reality.