Study of a Young Nude

Hemendranath Mazumdar a.k.a. Hemen Mazumdar is known for his command on combining European academic style with Indian traditions. He despised Bengal School orientalism and considered it retrogressive. While his body of work included watercolor, landscapes and also portraits in pastels, he is distinguished by his oil paintings of women, often draped in a wet saree. This particular work of Conté on paper was done a few years before he passed away. This sketch strips away his famous oil canvases and wet drapery to reveal his command on fundamental draftsmanship. This is a brilliant example of his understanding of human anatomy and his ability to depict the sense of delicate vulnerability. The drawing's impact comes down to Mazumdar’s control of light and technique of Chiaroscuro. He tracks the subject's anatomy with incredible care. The pose highlights her shoulder blades and alignment of her spine. He emerged the form of the figure through soft, blended gradual shading. Mazumdar strips away all distractions by leaving the background entirely empty which leaves the viewer to focus solely on his raw command of line and tone. He received criticism from people who found his choice of subject offensive. But in recent years, critical arguments questioned his gaze for his subjects which ranged from vulnerability to voyeurism.