Woman in Profile

Hailing from Kolhapur, M. V. Dhurandhar studied at Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay, and earned early success for his academic realist paintings, which also included portraits of women from almost all classes of society, both from his family and beyond. In time, he would go on to illustrate Otto Rothfield’s book, Women of India. In this early work, he paints a woman from a modest background, as evident from the absence of jewellery and humble saree. He brings her side profile into focus by filling the paper with her head and shoulders, and obliterating the need for any background.