Meghdoot

SUBJECT MATTER–

This painting is based on the lyrical poem ‘Meghdoot’ written by Kalidas. Meghdoot is a story
of “Yaksha”. who lives in beautiful mythical city of Alka in the Himalayas? he was exiled by
his master “Kuber” for one year for neglecting his duties. the poem is set about the eight
months after the exile when the “Yaksha” yearning for his beloved convinces a passing cloud
to become the messenger and carry his message to his beloved wife awaiting his return.

Description –

The painting Meghdoot painted by the Artist Ramgopal Vijayvargiya during 1961-66A.D.was
done in water colour, tempera medium in water colour ‘wash technique’. Meghdoot in three
separate series-based om famous Sanskrit classic ABHIYAN SHAKUNTALAM written by
Kali das. each series consists of 60 to 70 paintings.

In this painting the could messenger Meghdoot is shown taking yaksha’s massage to his
concert during rainy season. this painting has obvious effect of Bengal school style mixed
with typical Ajanta characteristics. The drawing reflects calligraphic freedom and maintains
the essence of form. the yksha’s is shown sitting in knee down posture having profile face,
softly smiling face fluttering hair and doe like eyes. He has some wild flowers in his long and
thin left hand. He has tapering artistic fingers and long legs.

He is shown indulged in writing a love letter in the midst of vibrant forest site in the lap of
nature. The nature is shown in a happy and blissful mood. He is shown wearing traditional
dhoti and having a long veil on his left shoulder. There is a flower garland around his neck
and a traditional closed thread called ‘janeu’ on his right shoulder. The cloud full of rain water
are shown floating very closed to yaksha as if they were eager and exited to take massage
from yksha and send to his consort.

Here clouds are depicting in a very special manner which looks natural and attractive. The
birds are shown flying higher than clouds. Now, it is a collection of National Art Gallery of
Modern Art New Delhi.

Journey’s End

SUBJECT MATTER–
This painting shows a tired and overloaded camel on the edge of death.in fact the artist is
showing reflection of human life through this piece of art work.

Description –

The painting journey’s end done by Abnindra Nath Tagore is a very meaningful painting. A
loaded camel is about to fall and die on a stony ground. He is very exhausted after a long
journey. It seems that the camel has worked more than his capacity. The effect of sunset
been shown in the painting through red, brown and yellowish orange colour. A desert has
been depicting gracefully.

The whole composition is well balanced, rhythmic and harmonized but there is some point
which compel us the criticize the compositional arrangements of this painting based on the
aesthetical parameters as it is a symbolic painting and there is no presence of any
compositional elements such as a hut or sand mountains (being a desert) etc. on the whole
this composition provides a mystical effect i.e. some kind of clarity is required.

Radhika

SUBJECT MATTER –

This painting is based on the typical Indian young girl in standing pose going out of her
room. She if feeling shy. this painting belongs to Hindu religion.

Description –

Radhika Is one of the best wash painting of M.A.R.Chughtai . In this painting, a very delicate
Indian Lady is shown coming out of her room. Her face is profile, head is down and eyes are
in graceful look with sharp eyebrows. Her left foot is in forward motion. She is holding lotus
flowre in her both hands. Her left hand is shown near face whilke right hand is hanging down
in a typical posture. A honeybee is shown sitting on the flower.

She is wearing light purple duptta ,red blouse and yellow odhani. Her hair is painted in black
and brown combination and reaches up to her back. She is wearing well finished pearl
necklace with pendent and thread necklace along with a beautiful pendent. She has bangles
in her hands and rings in fingers. in background a lamp along with lampshade is shown with
burning flame and smoke. The background is made beautifully by the fusion of red, yellow
and black colors.
The whole composition is giving a beautiful impression due to its rhythmic form and flexibility.
Now it is a collection of National galleries of modern art New Delhi.

Shiva And Sati

SUBJECT MATTER–

The subject matter of the painting depicts lord Shiva is shown seated and carrying goddess
sati in his arms and the scene is related to one of the main episodes of Shiva and sati. here
sati is dead. the subject matter of this painting totally matches the title. this painting is a
narrative mythology by modern Indian artist, Nandalal Bose.

Description –

Shiva And Sati is a beautiful wash painting of Nand Lal Bose. It’s one of the series of his
wash painting based on Shiva mythology. He transformed religious prototype venerated form
of lord Shiva to a simple person of eternal youth who gives lesson to everyone.

From his work and behavior, his Shiva in a new look, infect represents Shiva – tattva, the
essence of Shaivism on a new spiritual platform. In this painting we feel eternal peace and
sorrow is spread everywhere because Sati’s body is shown in the lap of Shiva. In spite of
that, the face of Shiva is shown in deep meditation. there is a hallow shown around the head
of Shiva. He looks a placid mood.

There is no sign of agitation on his face. it reflects the height of spiritualism which convey s
that the worst situation of life should be crossed with placid meditative mood and natural
emotion. though the flat colours are used in this painting but the plasticity of Sati’s body is
shown by drawing.

The outline of the whole composition is smooth, rhythmic and sharp. the soft and
monochromatic effect of the mixture of white, yellow ochre, orange, brown and black is nice.
in the guise of this mythic theme Nand Lal gives a massage of transcendental truth to
modern human life. Now, it is a collection of national gallery of modern art, new Delhi.

Rama Vanquishing the pride of ocean

SUBJECT MATTER– Thus painting is based on an episode of Balmikis Ramayana. After

preparing his forces for invading Lanka to recover Sita Ram was held up by the sea and his
army was separated from Lanka. attempts to build a bridge by were failed by the angry
ocean. Rama threatened that the “Varuna” that he would destroy him if he didn’t allow the
bridge to build. Only that this force could cross the ocean to reach Lanka.

Description –This is the famous mythological painting of Raja Ravi Verma, painted on an
important episode of Valmiki Ramayana. He successfully seized this moment and paints its
oil on canvas. This painting shows the Rama’s anger at the ocean for his non-cooperation to
give the way for Lanka. Rama wanted to construct a temporary bridge over the ocean to
reach Lanka with his force for bringing back his wife Sita from Ravana custody. Rama
threatened “Varuna” god of water that he was able to dry the ocean from his bow and arrow.
Varuna along with his wife speedily came forward and requested Rama not to dry the ocean.
Then he allowed angry Rama to build a bridge on the ocean. This is a realistic painting with
western colour treatment. The strong built of Rama is shown semi-nude in his fluttering dhoti
which depicts the strength of the wind blowing from the ocean. The sky is painted in dark
colour. The flow of sea wave is painted as they are striking back from heavy sea rocks. The
rocks shown in the foreground in dark brown colour brown blue yellow and peach colour are
prominent in this composition. now it is the collection of “chitrshala” Mysore.

Mother and Child

SUBJECT MATTER– This painting depicts a mother holding her child. The subject matter
matches totally with the title of the painting.

Description – This Water colour tempera of mother and child was done by famous artist
Jamini Roy from Bengal in 1930.In this painting, a standing mother is holding her naked child
with left hand on her left waist, both of them have fish shaped open eyes bold eyebrows. The
shape of their face looks like a cup and has cool and calm expressions of love. They are
decorated perfectly with white colour. mother’s right-hand palm is red. She is wearing brown
saree of green border decorated with black lines. On the left lower part of this vertical work,
a flowering stem of the plant is shown. The final decoration done in bold lines is very sharp.
Which makes whole composition very rhythmic and attractive. Perfect use of vermilion,
yellow ochre brown green blue black and white closures is giving extra look to this folk type
painting this work resembles with Kali ghat pat works now it is the collection of national
gallery of modern art at New Delhi.

Mother Teresa

SUBJECT MATTER – This is one of the painting from Mother Teresa series by the artist .in
his own words ‘she was modern Madonna who embraced the poor and destitute as her own
for she is a timeless figure. I will never get tired of painting her.

Description – Mother Teresa is the well-known personality of the world. She is famous for
his care, devotion and love for the orphan and destitute. Husain painted this saintly woman
in his style in oil on canvas in1988. Husain divided the whole painting in three vertical parts
by two conical pillars of yellow and light brown colours. The central portion is larger than the
left and right ones. in the left side, Mother Teresa is shown in sitting posture. a child
completely nude is shown in her lap in yellow ochre colour. mother is wearing yellow Saree
with blue border in a very special style of catholic churches. in this painting Husain painted
her face featureless in dark tone. In the middle portion, two sisters or devotees of mother
also having featureless dark faces dressed up like mother are shown in white sarees one
has raised her hands in blessing modes. a reclining male figure in Indian red colour is lying
in sister’s lap cornering the whole space of canvas from left to right. His left leg is also in
mother’s lap an attendant is touching his hand. The white veil of one of the sisters is shown
extended toward the right portion. Most of the colour look flat but the vibration of light and
dark tone is magically visible. Lines are bold, sharp and full of expression. Basically, this
painting is Husain’s gratitude to her nonparallel motherhood. Now it is a collection of national
gallery of modern art, new Delhi

Haldi Grinder.

SUBJECT MATTER –The whole picture represents an actual setting of a village household.
The women are sitting and grinding Haldi in traditional way.

Description –

Haldi Grinders made by Amrita Shergill due to many reasons. The great artist has done this
painting in the medium Acrylic/ oil Painting on canvas. The painting belongs to the time
periods 1940 A.D. And was done in size 76.5 cm 102 cm. its courtesy is national Gallery of
modern Art at new Delhi. In this painting she has used her favourite colours like red yellow
green brown etc. which fill a new visual reality in the painting. The painting has deep sense
of melancholy that finds expressions in the pensive faces of the figure. in this painting a rural
scene has been shown. the heads of these figure are covered with veils. The three ladies
are grinding Haldi. If we see minutely, one more female figure other than the three have
been shown behind a dominating tree in the foreground on the left side of the painting, on
the right side the second lady’s back has been shown only and her back is supported by
another tree on right side of the painting. While the third lady’s face is visible and she is on
the left side ahead the tree. Amrita Shergill has depicted the ladies with dark complexion.
she has also shown the unhappy sad dejected poor and starving women in such an
expressive way. So, this painting has many good qualities in it to be liked by everyone.

Children

SUBJECT MATTER – This print is visualization of the artist’s emotional response to the pain
and sufferings of the poor and deprived – the wounded humanity .it is about the physical
sufferings of the victimized and wounded, with no hope of rescue in this world or the other.

Description – This black and white composition of etching with aquatint was done by
famous print maker artist Somnath Hore in 1958. Basically, theme of this work reflects the
injustice to the innocent and poor people of our society. This is a close-knit isolated
composition of five standing members of a poor family. two boys are standing closely with
their mother. They are looking helplessly towards a girl standing in their right side. This girl
might be their whose back portion is visible. One front looking child is shown at the top of the
painting. The visible parts of his body are face and hands. All members are shown in torn
clothing. A thread is shown in the neck of the front standing boy. Their bloated stomach,
large head, small faces, protruding eyes, ribs of thorax and cheek bones are speaking out
their inner restlessness and gushing wounds. The mother has put her protective hand on
their shoulders sympathetically. This much defined geometrical composition represents the
most vulnerable section of humanity. in totally, the whole aspect of the print mirrors the
sufferings of the poor. now it is a collection of national gallery of modern art, New Delhi.

Devi

SUBJECT MATTER – The etching print shows Devi as a power worship and hidden power
of Kundalini (a form of feminine shakti or physical that we all possess). the yoga Upanishads
describe that kundalini is lying coiled at the base of our spine represented as either goddess
or a sleeping serpent waiting to be awaked.

Description – Devi is an excellent imagoes deep etching work done by famous Indian
graphic artist Jyoti Bhatt. he creates an attractive texture of serpentine form in intaglio
technique. This work is based on the concept of kundalini power which lies in the “Mooladhar
chakra” in all human beings. Any one of us can get empowered with the power of this
kundalini by meditation under the guidance of siddha guru. When this power arises in the
person, it generates the immense power to feel divine pleasure and light forever.
Jyoti Bhatt shows the female fertility power in the lower part of the composition and male
power in the heart of Devi. The spiritual grace of Devi is depicted by the two flowers shown
on her cheeks. She is shown wearing flowers in her ears. On her symbolically depicted right
palm three words ‘pseudo’, ‘Tantrik’, kundalini is written in English script while one word
‘Devi is written in Devanagari script. similarly, on her left palm the artist has written his name
in English and three words ‘Tantrik’, ‘ram- ram’, and’ “Shree’ in Devanagari script. In the
midst of the serpentine kundalini the word ram-ram is also written. On the fore head or the
“Bhrikuti of Devi” a brilliant vermillion colour Bindi makes It beautiful. Her large eyes
resemble the image of goddess Durga. now, it is a collection of national gallery of modern
art, New Delhi.

OF WALLS

SUBJECT MATTER– this art work is a journey of this artist down her memory lane of
childhood. The subject is unconsciously lost in the mystery of time with nothing in particular
but has a gliding image that has found place in her creation. This work is often interpreted as
a representation of poverty and loneliness. However, for the artist it is more of personal
moment.
Description – ‘Of Walls’ is the most symbolic and meaningful graphic work done by an
experimental Indian woman artist Anupam Sud in 1982. in this monochromatic lithography
print, a woman is shown sitting on one side. on her back there is a brick wall without plaster.
she is in simple dress. her face is made dark to show her sufferings. some folk type white
line drawings are also drawn on this wall. In the fore ground lower portion of a male figure in
a perfect anatomical balance is shown near the woman who appears as if he were in deep
sleep or dead. some of the temples like structures are also visible from the back of the wall.
this is the powerful work against the inhuman rules of our society. Now, it is a collection of
national gallery modern art at New Delhi.

Man , Women & Tree

SUBJECT MATTER – It is a depiction of village life basing on artist childhood memories of

rural and tribal liveliness. A native of an Andhra village the artist has presented a rustic
version of a man a woman and a tree.

Description – ‘Man, woman and tree’ is one of the finest graphic prints of k. Laxma Goud.
The print of this etching and aquatint work is taken on a very smooth paper in which a couple
is shown staring at each other in the midst of beautiful shrubs. the man is shown partially
hidden in the groove of three trees, standing in the triangular queue. Only upper portion of
his body is visible. a very simple, young woman is shown in a saree of dotted prints. she is
wearing a nose pin, a “Mangalsutra” and two bangles in each hand. three -fourth portion of
her body is shown in aqua colour. The fourth tree is shown behind her. the face expression
of woman and man are innocent and caring as if they were doing both real job of parenting
nature. The message of this print is again universal which narrates that the co -relation
between human and nature must be maintained for the survival of mankind. now it is a
collection of national gallery of modern art, New Delhi.