RADHA 1 (P038)
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Description:-
This evocative oil on canvas, titled "RADHA 1," created in 2009 and measuring 29 by 40 inches, presents a compelling and culturally rich scene that blends figurative realism with traditional Indian folk art motifs. The painting centers on a woman, presumably the titular Radha, engaged in playing a stringed instrument before a vibrant, symbolic backdrop featuring a stylized peacock.
The main figure, Radha, is depicted in profile from the waist up, positioned on the left side of the canvas. She is engrossed in playing a folk instrument, possibly an ektara or a similar single or double-stringed instrument. Her right hand skillfully draws a green bow across the strings, while her left hand supports the instrument's round, bright orange-yellow resonator. The long, slender neck of the instrument is also painted green, matching the bow. Radha's skin is rendered in warm, earthy tones of ochre and sienna, with highlights on her cheek, forehead, and arm suggesting a light source from the left. Her dark brown hair is neatly braided, the plait falling over her left shoulder, secured near its end by a small, bright green band. She wears a simple, short-sleeved lavender or pale mauve blouse or dress, the fabric softly creased and modeled with subtle highlights and shadows. Her expression is one of focused concentration and gentle introspection, her gaze directed towards the instrument and the peacock depicted on the backdrop. A small gold earring adorns her visible ear.
The backdrop against which Radha plays is a striking, intense crimson red tapestry or wall hanging. This vibrant red expanse dominates the right two-thirds of the canvas. The top edge of this tapestry is finished with a decorative scalloped border, meticulously outlined with dark, dashed "stitches," a recurring stylistic element in the artist's work. A thin green line, like a cord, runs along the top of this tapestry, seemingly suspending it from a small, light-brown wooden peg or block fixed to the textured wall on the far left.
Upon this red tapestry, a magnificent, highly stylized peacock is depicted, rendered entirely through painted "stitches" that mimic traditional Indian embroidery, such as Kantha or Madhubani art. The peacock's body is a dense pattern of bright orange and yellow "stitches," outlined and accented with light green or teal. Its long, graceful neck and head are primarily light green/teal "stitches," with a three-plumed crest adorned with yellow centers. Its eye is a striking red-orange, and its beak is yellow. The peacock faces left, towards Radha, as if listening to or inspiring her music.
A particularly enchanting detail is the visual representation of the connection between Radha's music (or presence) and the peacock. From the area of the peacock's beak and head, delicate, branching, vine-like lines, rendered in dark, dashed "stitches," extend leftwards, arcing gracefully towards Radha. These "vines" bear stylized, teardrop-shaped leaves or paisley motifs, filled with intricate "stitches" of light blue, yellow, and red. This motif beautifully visualizes a flow of energy, inspiration, or sound between the musician and the symbolic bird, suggesting her music is either summoning or communing with this divine emblem.
The far left of the painting reveals a section of a warmly lit, textured wall, painted in rich ochres and oranges, suggesting a sun-drenched mud or brick surface. To the upper right, beyond the red tapestry, a dark, arched recess or doorway plunges into deep shadow, adding depth and a touch of mystery to the scene. The artist's signature, "PARBATI DAS '09," is subtly placed in the lower right corner, on the red tapestry.
The use of oil paint allows for both the smooth, blended realism of Radha's figure and the flat, intense saturation of the red backdrop, as well as the meticulous, textural illusion of the "stitched" peacock and its associated motifs. The lighting is dramatic, with a strong light source from the left illuminating Radha's profile, her arm, and the side of the instrument, while casting the right side of her figure and parts of the wall into shadow.
Thematically, "RADHA 1" is steeped in the rich devotional tradition of Hinduism. Radha, the beloved consort of Lord Krishna, is a central figure in the bhakti (devotional) movement, symbolizing unconditional love and spiritual longing. The peacock is an iconic symbol associated with Krishna, who is often depicted wearing peacock feathers in his crown. Thus, the painting can be interpreted as Radha expressing her devotion to Krishna through music, with the peacock symbolizing his presence or the object of her devotion. The music becomes a bridge, a form of prayer or communion, visually represented by the flowing, "stitched" vines connecting her and the peacock. The artist's distinctive technique of rendering key symbolic elements as painted embroidery grounds the divine narrative in the tangible world of traditional craft, often associated with feminine artistry and storytelling, making the sacred accessible and intimately personal.
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