Gurukul Kangri University (Vishwavidyalaya) Library & Museum Collection, Haridwar, Uttarakhand, India.
Location History:
Published by Kanu Desai and printed by M. Vadilal and Company at Phoenix Printing Works in Ahmedabad as part of the Rup-Rekha portfolio, a documented copy was preserved in the Gurukul Kangri University collection in Haridwar before circulating into modern private collections.
In this exquisite watercolor painting, Kanu Desai has captured a moment of solitude and melancholy. A village woman crouches near the riverbank on a stone bench, her head resting on one arm, her body curled inward as if to occupy the least amount of space possible. By turning away from the viewer, the artist claims that the model is not really a portrait of an individual but rather an evocation of a mood. In particular, it is the mood characteristic of the classical Indian painting genre of viraha bhava, which means “the emotion of longing and separation.” Her flowing garment of purple (a deep hue, as worn in ghagra and edged in white and gold) and emerald green blouse (with an ochre-yellow veil woven with flowers) makes the young woman look both humble and fierce. A cascade of black hair adorns her back, framing the view of a couple of red clay water pots on the grass. As usual for many Indian paintings, the scene is set with a panghat, a bench, and a few items lying around suggest it’s time for the heroine’s afternoon break or a stroll along the river. In the background, the pale riverbank tree curves around the woman’s silhouette, contrasting her body, usually the focus of Indian miniature paintings. Desai’s watercolor painting is a melancholic piece that evokes feelings of isolation and serenity. The artist utilizes his signature technique of washes instead of harsh outlines to achieve a dramatic effect. By doing so, he creates hazy atmosphere, which, combined with loose and unorganized shapes, gives the sense of floating. Thus, the artist managed to create an image as delicate as can be, which he later described as a tiny moment of solitude that could hardly be noticed if one were to pass by this young woman who meditates near the river.
'Alone', by Kanu Desai, is not just a portrait of a woman, but a portrait of a woman in a tender moment in her life, a moment where she's consumed by her own solitude and melancholy. The artist's wash technique, with the central figure set apart with more elaborate colour and the background made lighter, highlights emotions in a more dramatic way. The woman is depicted in daily life; it's just her afternoon stroll along the river, the monotony of routine she deals with everyday. But the universal 'viraha bhava' message of longing and separation, lying hidden in this action, is what is captured in this simple, gorgeous artwork.
