discoveries...

Sleep, Amrita Sher Gil

This is the first nude painting that I remember seeing and its by Amrita Sher Gil, surprisingly, and not some generic renassaince nude. The painting happened to me when my mother took me to National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. I remember being aware of its hugeness in the corner of the room while I and my mom circulated through the entire space before standing in front of it.

In an attempt to experience that startling moment again, I used to go to the NGMA every day when I had to work in the Delhi High Court (that is just next door). I have a faint memory of seeing it again, but it wasn't as big and dramatic as the first time. On the other side of the Delhi High Court is a dargah of sorts where once a man, maybe the maluvi, insisted that if I wanted something, I could ask for it there..



Women on Charpai, Amrita Sher Gil


This painting seems reminiscent of Lihaaf, Ismat Chugtai. Another Sher gil painting called Two Girls apparently has stronger queer ressonances...but the internet is not letting me discover it today ..




And there she is, looking very young - the Paris days