Important Notice

The leitmotif of B Prabha's oeuvre was her compassionate depiction of rustic, rural women. Her 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 leitmotif of B Prabha's oeuvre was her compassionate depiction of rustic, rural women. Her 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.

In the present lot depicting two fisherwomen, Prabha articulates the figure through a carefully modulated palette of deep, earthy tones that contrast with the white and yellow colours of the women's attire. The graceful quality of her subjects is underscored by a sense of melancholy and solitude. Speaking about her body of work, 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'ss oeuvre and her inspirations," theartstrust.com, 2011, online)

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.

Read More
Artist Profile
Other works of this artist in: this auction  |  entire site