S L Haldanker's ' Glow of Hope' is a masterpiece. The watercolour effect is highly prominent in the painting . The bright usage of colours is juxtaposed against an interplay of light and shadow. Depicting light and shadow in watercolour paintings requires a lot of technique and skill. The painting depicts a woman holding a lamp , a hopeful expression on her countenance . The painting feels surreal , as the glow of the lamp is reflected clearly in the fabric of the saree. The choice of colour for the fabric is a soft hint at feminine power , and how it manifests itself everywhere. She is adorned in light jewellery.
Her appearance is mundane, yet elegant. Her fixed gaze is towards the audience , therefore breaking the fourth wall. The wall between the creation and the viewer ends up getting diminished. The magnification of her shadow on the wall behind reflects upon the elephant in the room - a gleam of Hope. Hope is brightness in a dark room . The light tone of the wall is soft, yet highly resilient. This resilient nature is motivating in times of discord . The harmony of human life is indeed, stagnant. This stagnant nature is temporary, however . The painting is highly motivational overall .
If we take a look at the architecture of the composition we'll find that, the room is a near-vacuum. The background is a soft grey wash of shadow that holds the negative space of a body (the woman's own cast shadow) and the gleaming halo of reflected light on the wall. This masterclass in theatrical lighting leaves no room for error. The edges of her hand that cup the flame glow with a brilliant vermilion light, as if the skin itself has become a lantern. This is the Glow of Hope as a performance of risk.
