Today is a day of
celebration in Art world- birthday of most prominent first Indian woman painter
Amrita Sher-Gil. Amrita proved herself when it was not very easy for an Indian
woman to project her talents and skills worldwide. Though she had the advantage
of her aristocrat heredity and a Hungarian mother. Earlier stages of her
short-lived life was spent in Budapest, Hungary.
 |
Born: January 30, 1913, Budapest, Hungary( image wikipedia)
|
She did her art schooling
in Paris, none of her earlier paintings were close to Indian context, in fact
she was influenced by European painters Gaugin such as Paul Cezanne and Paul
along with the influence of her teacher Lucien Simon and some of her artists
friends and lovers. While in Paris here paintings were westernised and quiet
similar to Bohemian style that was a trend in 1930s.
 |
| Group of Three Girls, Oil on canvas, January 1935 ( image NGMA Mumbai) |
But her sixth sense always
pulled her towards India. She and her husband stayed in Saraya, Gorakhpur. Her
touring in India took her to remote places and village life, women plight
grabbed her attention. This was the ultimate destination and fervour of Amrita Sher-Gil.
Her paintings had a powerful impact like the maestros of Bengal school of art.
Her paintings portray plight of Indian women, villages he the raw and remote
beauty of India. Her paintings were similar to Bengal School of art maestros
such as Rabindranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore. Indian tradition was root
of her creation and remained lifelong.
 |
| South Indian Villagers Going to Market, 1937. ( image wikipedia) |
Amrita Sher-Gil lived in
pre-colonial era. Her family was much influenced by British Raj. But she was the
supporter of Congress and Gandhiji’s philosophy. The grandeur of her paintings
lie in the poverty, downtrodden people and village life that she excellently
portrays with her perfect sense of colour. It seems as if she lived their life.
The paintings are empathetic. Her feelings for poor rural India. The paintings
impressed Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru when he visited her at Saraya, and he
proposed to consider them for the Congress propaganda for village
reconstruction.
 |
| Portrait of leading leaders ( image google) |
During the Independence
period many artists used their art for political propaganda. Many were
successful and became famous by drawing portrait of leading leaders. Art was
instrumental in Indian Independence. But here it is important to note that Amrita
Sher-Gil was most influential woman artists equal to men of the time. Earlier she
also had the honour of becoming the youngest and only Asian artist to be
elected as an Associate of the Grand Salon in Paris. If we calculate her
treasure of paintings in commercial terms, then she is one of the most
expensive painters of the world. Her life full of affairs and friendship with
men and women makes her life look like a story of novel. Other than becoming
inspiration for contemporary artists her life and works also influences works
of literature like Urdu play ‘Tumhari Amrita’ by Javed Siddiqi, novel ‘Faking
It’ by Amrita Chowdhury and so on.
Truly genius! by Pankaja JK Art Blogazine
(2016 - No copyright claim of any image by Writer or Artblogazine.com)
(2016 - No copyright claim of any image by Writer or Artblogazine.com)
send feedback to JK pankjajk@gmail.com
Also Read More on New Magazine website :
(2016 - No copyright claim of any image by Writer or Artblogazine.com)
(2016 - No copyright claim of any image by Writer or Artblogazine.com)
send feedback to JK pankjajk@gmail.com
http://www.artblogazine.in/amrita-sher-gil-pride-of-indian-art-born-january-30-1913-today-is-a-day-of-celebration-in-art-world-birthday/
comment below about what you like or dislike : get reply from Pankaja JK
comment below about what you like or dislike : get reply from Pankaja JK