Somnath Hore was born in 1921 in Chittagong, now in Bangladesh. In his youth he became affiliated with the Communist Party, and his socialist ideologies influenced the early phases of his artistic career. His sketches, sculptures and prints were a reaction to major historical crisis’ and events of 20th century Bengal such as the Bengal Famine of 1943 and the Tebhaga movement. Hore invented and developed various printmaking techniques of his own, including his famous pulp print technique. As Hore evolved, his drawings, especially his human figures, became simplified and shed details. Through this reduction of elements, he achieved his individual style of contorted and suffering figures created with a masterly use of line. His sculptures show a similar approach. One of his largest sculptures was Mother and Child which paid tribute to the sufferings of the people of Vietnam. The anguished human form has widely been reflected in Hore's figuration. The visual appeal of his work is increased by the rough surfaces, slits, holes and exposed channels.