Sunil Madhav Sen, born in Purulia, West Bengal, was a self-taught artist whose work reflected a diverse range of influences—from Indian folk traditions and Rabindranath Tagore’s use of colour to José Posada’s emotive intensity and Gaganendranath Tagore’s cubist techniques. Although he studied law and liberal arts at Calcutta University and held a government job, Sen pursued art passionately in his personal time. 

He refined his skills under the mentorship of Hemendranath Mazumdar and through interactions with artists like Abanindranath Tagore and Atul Bose. Early in his career, he created charcoal studies, portraits, and copies of works by European masters like Guido Reni and Rembrandt. Sen held his first solo exhibition in 1950 and joined the Calcutta Group in 1952, aligning with its socially conscious artistic ideals. His subjects ranged from everyday life and social upheavals—including the Bengal Famine and the Quit India Movement—to depictions of Nepalese women, Bhutia boys, mythological figures, and dreamscapes. 

His works are housed in major collections such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, the Library of Congress (USA), the New York Public Library, and the Bradford Museum.