Untitled

Jamini Roy was a master colourist, as evident from the vibrancy with which he filled colours in his works. Yet, at the same time, he was a master of minimalism too, evoking powerful figures with just the use of strong lines, of which this Untitled work is a striking example. A dancer poses like Lord Krishna, with her face turned away from the imaginary flute that her hands hold. This is a classical nritya (dance) pose, expressed in this country through centuries, on temple walls, in bronze sculptures and other traditional arts. In adopting the classical pose and presenting it in a folk idiom, Roy democraticised it with lyrical results.