Important Notice

B Prabha's works were inspired by her desire to portray the inner lives of women from different strata of society. Educated at the Nagpur School of Art and the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai, she developed her own idiom of elegant, almost regal female figures accentuated by colourful sarees and accessories that often reflected their background and lifestyle.

The artist's earlier works were uniquely abstract, as seen in lot 8... B Prabha's works were inspired by her desire to portray the inner lives of women from different strata of society. Educated at the Nagpur School of Art and the Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai, she developed her own idiom of elegant, almost regal female figures accentuated by colourful sarees and accessories that often reflected their background and lifestyle.

The artist's earlier works were uniquely abstract, as seen in lot 8 from 1967. The freely drawn lines, possibly representing sparse, wintry trees, are surrounded by rapid brushstrokes of blue, red and white that stand out against a calmer background. The leitmotif of B Prabha's oeuvre, however, was her compassionate depiction of rustic, rural women. In the present lot, she articulates the figure through a carefully modulated palette of deep, earthy tones contrasting with the bright colours of the woman's attire. The graceful posture of her subject, who is seated with her wares, portrays a sense of solitude.

Speaking about her body of work, B Prabha once said, "The core theme of my paintings was always women and their sufferings. I have seen them and observed them closely. I did not just think of the urban woman but also those in rural areas, who were as creative. They exude so many emotions to portray." (Artist quoted in "A peep into B Prabha's oeuvre and her inspirations," theartstrust.com, 2011, online) B Prabha's works juxtapose the struggle and circumstances of these women with their inherent beauty and strength, speaking volumes about the honesty and dignity of village life.

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