Amrita Sher-Gil
Today we want to present Amrita Sher-Gil, Hungarian-Indian painter, who is often celebrated as one of the early 20th century's most groundbreaking female artists in modern Indian art. Amrita discovered her passion for painting at a young age, starting formal lessons when she was eight.
Amrita's life was a vibrant journey, filled with travels to diverse places like Hungary, Turkey, France, and India. She had a unique talent for incorporating elements from precolonial Indian art styles and the contemporary culture of the places she visited into her work. During an era when most artists depicted women as happy and agreeable, Amrita Sher-Gil's portrayal of female characters stood out remarkably. She captured the essence of their inner solitude or quiet determination, a portrayal that may have been a mirror to her own experiences of feeling isolated, living a life that straddled various cultures and worlds.
Tragically, Amrita's life was cut short at the age of 28, leaving behind a limited but precious collection of her work. Out of 172 documented paintings, 95 are proudly housed in Indian institutions, like the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, treasured as national heirlooms never to leave the country.
P.S. Amrita Sher-Gil's paintings are truly stunning, and her other work is featured in our Women Artists 50 Postcards Set; check out this amazing selection!
P.P.S. Explore the life and art of Amrita Sher-Gil, who is sometimes compared with Frida Kahlo.