Amrita Sher-Gil and the representations of non-western female bodies (PDF)

Essay from the year 2016 in the subject Art - History of Art, grade: 1,0, University College Cork, language: English, abstract: The essay scrutinises the individuality of Amrita Sher-Gil paintings by examining various stylistic and personal influences as well as discuss the artist's progress by analysing three paintings from 1930 to1935. While "Self-Portrait with Easel" (1930) is clearly influenced by Western style, "Self-Portrait as Tahitian" (1934) is already challenging the traditional representation of the female nude. The climax of Sher-Gil's artistic transition will be discussed in "Hill Women" (1935). Moreover, the paintings are being discussed with the artist's personal situation and the historical and cultural context in which they were created.
Amrita Sher-Gil's poems get to the heart of the conflict in the discussion of the artist's life and work. Although being constantly anguished by her hybrid identity, Sher-Gil desired to represent a new subject matter and a pioneer in modern Indian art with unconventional representations of Non-Western female bodies.

Work completed under the supervision of Dr Mary Kelly (née Healy) in fulfilment of the requirements of the Module HA3016 Intentions in Art: Women's Art and Gender Theories, University College Cork, 2016.