Did You Know Frida Kahlo Had a Soul-Sister In India?
Edition #28 - The uncanny similarities between two prolific female artists
Hey friends,
I was on a 20-day hiatus to attend my brother’s marriage in India. But yeah, I did not miss publishing any newsletter edition. How? Of course, I scheduled them in advance.
Isn’t these features so cool and give you so much flexibility?
On the other note, this was my look on my brother’s cocktail night. Truly inspired by Frida Kahlo. Let me know how do you find it?
Let’s dive into this week’s edition.
Did You Know Frida Kahlo Had a Soul-Sister In India?
Frida Kahlo was a famous surrealist and feminist in the western art world. And then there was Amrita Sher-Gil, one of the greatest female avant-garde artists and pioneer in modern Indian art.
Both were:
women of color.
portrayed melancholy and feminism in their paintings.
and carved their own path in male-dominated art space.
This article delves into the uncanny similarities in their personal and professional pursuits.
Their similar painting styles
Sher-Gil was born to an Indian father and a Hungarian mother, while Kahlo was born in Mexico.
Both carried artistic genes from their fathers, who were both professional photographers.
In the 1930s, Sher-Gil moved to India, and that’s when she came into close contact with Indian people and traditions. See, for instance — Sher-Gil wrapped in a beautiful shimmered white saree with bangles in one hand and a small bindi on her forehead.
Her painting The Three Girls is a simple reflection of the position of women in pre-independence India.
Sher-Gil wrote — I realized my real artistic mission, to interpret the life of Indians and particularly the poor Indians pictorially; to paint those silent images of infinite submission and patience,… to reproduce on canvas the impression those sad eyes created on me.
The women are dressed from head to toe, their heads covered. They are shy and don’t look into the eyes of the viewer. The subjects reflect a deep sense of melancholy. They have a lot to say but can’t in the Indian male-dominated society.
Similarly, Frida Kahlo was attracted to Mexican indigenous heritage and promoted it in her paintings. Her Self Portrait as a Tehuana is a testament to it.
Kahlo and Sher-Gil dealt with tempestuous relationships, had miscarriages, faced infidelity, and had relationships with women. Their paintings gave us a true reflection of the circumstances they faced.
They channeled the sufferings onto canvases.
They depicted nakedness during a time when it was not widely accepted. Their visual representations were shaped by their multicultural upbringing.
Self Portrait as Tahitian shows a semi-naked Sher-Gil. A discomfort in her body language is distinct, as if she is trying to confront how women were unequally treated during those times.
A human shadow is visible over Sher-Gil’s body. Is it the shadow of a man who forcefully barges into a woman’s life?
Kahlo’s painting The Broken Column defies her destiny as a victim and reflects the physical and emotional pain she had to bear throughout her life.
Sher Gil died at a very young age of 28 before her first solo exhibition, and Frida died at 47 after her first grand solo exhibition in Mexico.
Lastly
Both the women fought their own battles and depicted their experiences and adversities on canvas. Their painting styles were bold, progressive, and ahead of their times.
Sher-Gil’s paintings are considered one of the most expensive by a woman in the Indian art world, while Kahlo’s art is regarded as a national heritage in the western art world.
Thank you for subscribing and supporting my newsletter. Both free and paid subscriptions are available. The best way to support my work is through a paid subscription.
Yes you already know you look fabulous so what could I, a mere mortal add? 😊