early 1940s

Painting, in lamp-black and ink on cardboard. The work represents an instance of the artist's exploration of everyday life of rural Bengal, particularly the women of the Aboriginal Santhal community. The work depicts a highly stylised standing female figure, seen in profile with one arm raised, executed in bold black strokes. The artist has used lamp black, taken from the bottom of a kettle to draw the figure. The figure seen in profile has one arm raised and a very large eye.