S.M. Sultan’s Tribute to Agrarian Bengal: Land Labor and Life

Monisa Saha

Art is a powerful medium for storytelling, and S M Sultan’s Grabbing of Rising Land series exemplifies this truth. Grabbing of Rising Land-1/ Char Dokhol-1, Grabbing of Cropland/ Khet Dokhol, and Grabbing of Rising Land-2/ Char Dokhol-2 are some of his outstanding pieces that demonstrate his deep connection to the land and analysis of socio-economic difficulties. These paintings, which have their roots in Bengali agricultural society, depict the cultural, emotional, and physical aspects of land struggle in striking detail. Sultan acknowledged the human cost of these unethical activities and his lamentation over the devastation of the environment. The artist conveys a potent message about hard work, perseverance, and spirituality through the heroic portrayals of farmers and their close ties to the land. He aims to overcome rural living challenges by combining spiritual and physical strength. Sultan’s writings urge that rural farmers’ social and political values be reconsidered and that their role as the foundation of a nation’s power is acknowledged. He emphasizes the agrarian people’s resilience and the heroic dignity of farmers. They are shown as tall, powerful creatures that stand for both physical and spiritual strength. With their deep connections to the land, the figures highlight the beneficial relationship between people and the natural world.

Michelangelo’s sculptures and paintings, including The Creation of Adam, have heroic forms that remind of Sultan’s muscular, dynamic figures. The human body is a metaphor for power, divinity, and conflict in the works of both artists. Despite being romanticized and frequently depicting supernatural or mythological themes, Michelangelo’s figures strongly connect to the sociopolitical and environmental reality of Bangladesh’s rural areas. The application of distortion is based less on idealized aesthetics and more on symbolic narrative. In Grabbing of Rising Land-1, the figures represent the conflict between exploitation and preservation by appearing as both aggressors and protectors. Their disproportionate physique alludes to their resilience and strength, while simultaneously hinting at the devastating power that has unleashed greed. Sultan emphasizes the significance of the disputed territory by using fine detail in the background to portray objects like crops, trees, and undulating landforms. The image depicts a group of strong, muscular individuals fighting tensely over a piece of lush, rising land.

Understanding the artist’s portrayal of themes of societal invisibility, rural strength, and perseverance requires an understanding of the main organizational components. Sultan uses a composition that is dense and energetic. The paintings convey a sense of turmoil and struggle through overlapping figures, linear perspectives, tools, and natural materials. The tension and turmoil that come with exploitation and land conflicts are reflected in this composition. The enormous farmers’ prominent position commands the viewer’s attention, highlighting their power over the canvas and vulnerability amid a tumultuous environment.

The background, which is frequently simple or abstract, draws attention to the figures and their immediate environment. The curved, organic forms of the figures convey power, fluidity, and a spiritual connection to the ground, while the rectangular frames suggest boundaries and structure. Sultan uses a range of geometric patterns. The dynamic tension created by the interaction of organic and geometric shapes represents the harmony between human freedom and limitation. It supports the painting’s themes of societal invisibility, resilience, and the bond between farmers and the land. The background’s natural features and far-off horizon give the image a feeling of location and scale.

In contrast to the pandemonium of the men fighting for control, the painting Grabbing of Cropland is dominated by scenes of agricultural prosperity, such as verdant fields, ripe crops, and irrigation channels. Sultan’s use of vivid, bright colors for the crops communicates their vibrancy and worth, while the people’s sombre, gloomy tones allude to destruction and greed. Sultan creates a visual story that is both personal and universal in this composition by striking a balance between broad, energetic strokes and minute details.

Dispersed throughout the piece, tools like sickles and ploughs serve as agricultural instruments and representations of resistance and hard work. The fractured and entwined forms make the paintings more tense, which mirrors the tumultuous and frequently violent realities of property conflicts. The landscape has life and a tactile, dynamic character because of the employment of textured brushstrokes. Sultan contrasts the enormous humans with the vastness of the field and sky to emphasize their connection to and dominance over the environment. Greens, ochers, browns, and warm reds dominate the rich, earthy color scheme—vigorous contrasts between light and dark show the flesh-toned characters’ muscularity and heroic strength. Because of the stark contrast created by the dark backgrounds, the people appear to be the main subject of the composition and larger than life. A more crowded arrangement of human figures is shown in the picture Grabbing of Rising Land-2, with their postures and gestures suggesting a heated quarrel or physical confrontation. The viewer’s attention is guided throughout the painting by the rhythm created by the interaction of light and shadow, highlighting the conflict’s emotional and physical stakes. This color and value scheme highlights the ideas of resilience, human connection to nature, and spiritual endurance.

It is not only a work of art but a statement of justice, resilience, and hope. Sultan transforms the farmers’ story from tyranny to empowerment by depicting them as valiant individuals involved in a compelling battle. He does this to make us consider the importance of community, labor, and land in creating a fair and sustainable society.

S M Sultan’s paintings prove art’s transformational potential in tackling environmental and social concerns. He creates a story with deep symbolism, raw brushwork, and massive figures that have an impact well beyond Bangladesh’s rural areas. Art is timeless and universally relevant in these masterpieces because it captures the universal human fight for survival and dignity. through appreciation of his work, the stories of rural Bengal will always be ingrained in the public consciousness.