October 2006
An Introduction to Amrita sher- Gil
Amrita sher-Gil once wrote, “Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque and many others. India belongs to me alone.” She died, however, in 1941—long before she could enjoy her fame. Collectors and critics have only recently begun to regard her work as a driving force behind modernism in India. Along with this undeniable artistic impact, the mysterious circumstances of sher-Gil’s death and the wild stories of her international love affairs have made the beautiful artist an enigmatic figure often likened to Frida Kahlo. For the first time ever in Germany, her paintings and collages will be on display at the Haus der Kunst, from October 3 until January 7, 2007. “Amrita sher-Gil: An Indian Artist Family in the 20th Century” will also feature photographs by her father Umrao sher-Gil and nephew Vivan Sundaram. Together, these images constitute a richly contextualized view of a national icon with growing international stature.
