Collection of Fritz Schleicher Thence by descent to Mrs. Lotti Schleicher Singh Thence by descent to Robert Sandu
Location History:
Acquired from the above in 2008 Fritz Schleicher was a German printer from Berlin, who managed the 'Ravi Varma Oleographic and Chromolithographic Printing Workshop' and later bought the printing press from Ravi Varma in 1903
Standing as a triumphant apex of early twentieth century Indian academic realism, Rupasundari unfolds as a masterful dialogue between Western classical grandeur and the intimate, poetic syntax of Indian romanticism. Emerging from the velvet depths of a chiaroscuro woodland, the subject is rendered with a breathtaking fidelity that simultaneously evokes the luminous sensuality of Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and the dramatic, atmospheric intensity of sixteenth century Old Master paintings. The artist delicately juxtaposes her creamy, porcelain complexion against a moody, shadowed backdrop, casting her not merely as a mortal woman but as an ethereal, mythological nymph. Draped in yards of gossamer, incandescent silk that hint at the legendary "wet sari" technique pioneered by the artist, her relaxed posture suggests a blissful unawareness of the viewer's voyeuristic gaze. Yet, her curious, turned eyes anchor her in a space that feels remarkably modest, approachable, and human. Every detail, from the traditional water pot symbolizing sacred femininity to the exquisite ornaments of precious stones and metal, denotes a subject of aristocratic or celestial lineage. By melding the rigor of British academic drawing with the evocative, emotional color palettes of Impressionism and Romanticism, this canvas breaks away from the minimalist undercurrents of the contemporary Neo-Bengal School. Instead, it embraces a bold, heroic deportment that celebrates the female form with unashamed tactile richness and narrative depth, securing its position as a monumental bridge between Eastern identity and Western painterly wisdom.
The painting stands as a supreme testament to the exceptional genius of Hemendranath Mazumdar, an artist who achieved unparalleled academic and commercial success in the 1920s through his unrivaled command over the oil medium. While his contemporaries surrendered to the nationalist, folkloric historicism of the Neo-Bengal School, Mazumdar staged a magnificent aesthetic rebellion, remaining fiercely loyal to the visceral weight and tangible reality of human form. His brilliance shines in his trademark ability to breathe life into the women of his native Bengal, elevating everyday bathing scenes into timeless monuments of vulnerability, innocence, and profound psychological depth. Through a meticulous working process that evolved from fleeting preparatory sketches to tightly structured, finely detailed masterpieces, Mazumdar captured the transparency of wet drapery against warm skin with a virtuosity unmatched in South Asian art history. In doing so, he did not merely mimic the West; he brilliantly recontextualized classical academic rigor to honor Indian womanhood with an unvarnished, luminous dignity that cemented his reputation as the most sought-after oil painter of his generation.
The Raja Ravi Varma painting titled Rupasundari creates the impression of beauty and grace. The female depicted in this picture looks calm and serene standing among nature wearing golden-yellow transparent sari covered by a dark veil. Her facial expressions are soft, and she is looking at something slightly lowering her eyes. This contributes to the idea of modesty and elegance. It is interesting how the dark blue-green background helps to highlight her pale clothes and body posture. In addition, flowers, plants, and the calmness of the evening contribute to the impression that everything in the picture is somehow dream-like and peaceful. This painting shows typical features of Raja Ravi Varma such as Indian motifs and realistic European painting technique. To my mind, the woman in this painting personifies the ideal of female beauty and at the same time looks like an individual with unique qualities and character.
