Jyoti Bhatt's The Lost Pundit

Jyoti Bhatt's iconic etching “Lost Pundit” is among the featuring works in the exhibition. A pioneering Indian artist, printmaker, and photographer, best known for his contributions to modern printmaking in post-independence India, Bhatt developed a unique visual language by drawing extensively from living traditions including ritual markings and rural craft and folk practices. One of his widely recognisable etchings titled 'Lost Pundit' epitomises a sense of harmony and wit both visually and thematically: an owl is perched atop a somewhat whimsical yet enigmatic figure, a learned man, traditionally associated with knowledge and authority, who appears disoriented or out of place.
Bhatt often draws on archetypal figures from Indian society, and here the “Lost Pundit” represents one such figure. This etching is one of Bhatt's early works to be shown at his significant one-man show of prints and paintings at Gallery Chemould in 1967.

Many rare visual narratives and artistic expressions come together in 𝘼𝙡𝙡 𝙇𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙨 Expressed in the Modern and Contemporary Fine & Popular Indian Arts, a compelling exhibition curated by Neville Tuli that explores the 16th Research Category for India Studies- ""The Animal Human Nature Continuum"" on 5th to 11th May 2026 at 📍 Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003

Visit Jyoti Bhatt's Body of Work section on the tuliresearchcentre.org to explore more exhibitions of the master.