Early works of the master

Rebellio0n, brush and ink

Two famine sketches bring in a couple sitting with covered heads on the ground and holding on to a child, with a begging bowl in front. Another such image brings in a barely clad woman looking for food, with a small container in her hand. The next one depicts two bent images in rags, also begging for food. Another has a skinny girl holding up her hands to her brother who is eating from an upturned bowl. There are three large black crows surrounding the children.

There is a portrait of a woman in which only the face has been brought in with sweeps of the hair tied back. The subject appears to be pondering over some thought. The bird study in pen and ink brings dainty sketches of flying cranes with long beaks, legs and blue scalloped wings. A landscape in pen, ink and watercolour depicts tall trunks and decorative leaves which are tinted with blue.

A study in pen and ink against a chutney-green background shows an old craftsman with white beard, cap, glasses and sarong, busy at his work. The study of the reclining figure presents a resting woman with flowing black hair. This is done in pen and ink.

The study of the standing woman has a bare bosomed woman wearing a striped sarong and with her dark hair in a bun. Three more studies bring a standing woman with her arms akimbo and staring on in front. The next brings two European men sitting at tea and chatting amicably. The third has a man in blue reading with a pile of books resting on his knee.

A study has a mother and child theme with the mother cuddling her baby on her lap. This is done in pencil. Another study has a woman comforting another by putting her arms around the other person. This is done in pen, ink and blue wash. A pen and ink sketch brings in a man pulling a cart of milk pails. There is then a woman in a sari, seen from the back and this is in watercolour washes. A Japanese man's head and kimono top is brought in the next pen and ink sketch.

A reclining woman's figure is brought in a sketch touched up with watercolour. A landscape with houses, cliffs and bushes, containing the figure of a woman and a child is done in pen. Equally unusual is the landscape study with people gathered around a grounded boat. The portrait of a child with curly hair is brought in a pen and ink sketch. A woman peeping though an opening in the wall is seen in another delineation.

There are some works in washes such as the landscapes that bring in trees, houses and paths in red, blue green and yellow sweeps. They bring in idyllic images of homes.

The sketches are powerful and often not seen before.