The art of Ganesh Pyne is an immersive journey into the twilight world of the subconscious, earning him the title of a "poet of melancholia." A prominent figure from the Bengal School lineage, Pyne developed a unique style of poetic surrealism, blending his command over chiaroscuro with motifs drawn from Bengali folklore, mythology, and deeply personal trauma. His artistic vocabulary was indelibly shaped by his childhood experience witnessing the horrific Calcutta riots of 1946, a disquieting encounter that instilled an obsession with themes of death, solitude, and the precariousness of life. Working primarily in the demanding medium of tempera, Pyne masterfully created small, dense compositions that are rich in imagery and symbolic layering. He skillfully achieved a dramatic rendering of light and darkness, where an eerie, trapped light illuminates skeletal figures, demons, and melancholic human-animal hybrids, suggesting a world beyond the familiar. His technique involved spreading multiple translucent color layers, resulting in a haunting depth that resonates with influences ranging from Abanindranath Tagore to the European masters Rembrandt and Paul Klee. Pyne, who remained a reclusive figure throughout his career, used his seclusion as a forge, crafting an intricate inner landscape that is both unsettling and profoundly tender. His temperas are an exploration of existential questions, transforming the horrors of reality into a magical, yet dark, visual narrative.