Image source: artsandculture.google.com
Toilet
Artist:Hemen Majumdar
| Support Type: | Paper |
| Paint Type: | Watercolor |
| Current Location: | NGMA Collection, Accession No. NGMA-02166 |
| Location History: | Created in British India (early 20th century); currently housed in the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India (Accession No. NGMA-02166). The earlier provenance or ownership history has not been publicly documented by the museum. |
“Toilet” by Hemendranath Majumdar is a beautiful and elegant painting, showcasing Majumdar’s mastery of realism. The artwork portrays a Bengali woman, focused on a mirror, grooming herself to get ready. Though we cannot see the woman, Majumdar’s use of soft lighting, careful modelling of the figure, and delicate rendering of fabric imparts a quality of elegance and personal closeness to the figure. Thus, despite being unable to see the woman, the viewer feels a sense of closeness to her. The highly detailed work portrays excellently the feel and folds of the fabric, the glint of the jewellery, and much more, alongside this dreamy, golden haze that encompasses the work.
Information Compiled by
Taarina Therese Chandiramani