Sudhir Patwardhan

Painted in 1972, this tender and richly-pigmented portrait is a rare and early work by Sudhir Patwardhan. The subject of the painting, Sakhubai, was the house help at Patwardhan's parents' house in Pune while he was studying medicine at the city's Armed Forces Medical College. Patwardhan graduated in 1972, the same year the current lot was painted, later moving to Thane where he worked as a radiologist and self-taught artist. Related to his Marxist views and participation in local politics, Patwardhan’s art has consistently reflected his sympathies for the marginalised underclasses, specifically the Konkani-Marathi working class.

This portrait of Sakhubai is thus an early example of Patwardhan's enduring artistic project, and yet is rendered in a manner quite dissimilar to the uniquely stylised form of realism for which the painter is famed. In this painting, Patwardhan pays particular attention to light and tonality, through the soft buttery light that hits Sakhubai's face and saree. A remarkable portrait, the current lot offers a glimpse into Patwardhan's early style and his formative years in Pune.