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Lot Essay
The human figure is used conceptually in Tyeb Mehta's work, where forms take precedence and become symbolic of the larger issues of the human condition. For him, the figure is not to be seen as part of a narrative, but represents the emotional content of the painting. Depicting more than one figure can often dilute this, which is why solitary figures occupy the majority of his canvases.
Mehta's visit to England in 1959 and the resulting influence of European Expressionism is visible in his works from the 1960s. He created several works with lone, isolated figures as the subject. These were executed in somber colors, sometimes using a palette knife. The present work, done in shades of blue and gray has a few distinct lines for the face, but the monumentality of the figure is communicated simply through the use of vibrant brushstrokes.
Mehta's visit to England in 1959 and the resulting influence of European Expressionism is visible in his works from the 1960s. He created several works with lone, isolated figures as the subject. These were executed in somber colors, sometimes using a palette knife. The present work, done in shades of blue and gray has a few distinct lines for the face, but the monumentality of the figure is communicated simply through the use of vibrant brushstrokes.