Untitled

Born into the aristocratic milieu of the Tagore family in Calcutta (now Kolkata), Sunayani Devi was one of the pioneering women modernist artists of India. Her elder siblings were Gaganendranath Tagore and Abanindranath Tagore, while Rabindranath was her uncle. In spite of the progressive context of her family, she was largely confined to the domestic sphere, leading commentators of her work to label her art as primitivist or ‘naïve’, reflecting the spiritual purity of the inner chambers of such households where the men were seen to be tainted by the colonial world outside. Familiar scenes from every day domestic life, mythological stories and rituals, like weddings, occupied her imagination. Mostly known for her dream-like washes of fluid lines and soft palettes, Sunayani also made some sketches, like this scene of a wedding. A bride and groom coyly look at each other while they are surrounded by a group of women. The figures huddle together, and their glances convey a sense of familiarity and intimacy.