I would start this story with the story of an Indian clergyman who, exhausted and exhausted, arrived in the village in the middle of the night after a long walk expecting to find accommodation. However, all his doors were closed, everyone refused him. He began to thank God. Someone asked him why he thanked God, when he allowed himself to be so exhausted in the middle of the night without a roof over his head, and he said, "God knows best what I need, he decided that at this point I need such situations."
Just as Mexico has Frida Kahlo, so India is proud of Amrita Sher-Gil.Her beauty, life, painting are fascinating. A short life full of turbulent events, men, art. When she finished, she was only 28 years old.She was considered one of the most beautiful women of her time. She led a lavish and lewd life without ever questioning her decisions and turning around. She was already dead at the age of 28, but she left behind works that are still admired by millions of people, making her the highest paid Indian painter in history.
Amrita Sher-Gil's life was very exciting and equally tragic.
In the town of Buda and Pest in 1913, among the historical architecture, Ms Sher Gil was born in a place not so far from the residence of Bela Bartok, a famous Hungarian composer and a pianist. While Bartok was busy creating his world famous melodies, that girl was growing up unaware that she would be the forerunner of modern art in the Indian subcontinent.
She was born in Budapest, in the family of an Indian father and a Jewish mother from Hungary. From an early age, she was surrounded by wealth because her father belonged to the ruling, aristocratic caste in India, and her mother was a famous opera singer. The family moved to India and the girl grew up under the great influence of the culture of that country, and this heritage will follow her for the rest of her life.Amrita also played piano and violin. As a child, she gave concerts. She was a great talent for music and painting.She had her own painting teachers, attended an art school in Florence, Italy.
Her later work was influenced by Italian artists.As a girl, she went to school with her mother in Paris. Paris, the city of light, bohemianism, art was her dream. She toured art circles, and hung out with artists.In that period, she got to know the world of luxuries, but also the world of vices.She spent turbulent years in Paris, she had a lot of men and her pictures testify to that.She was constantly looking for love she couldn't find.Why do we hit the wall so often when we need love? Because we are looking for her on the wrong side. Because that's how we catch droplets instead of swimming in the ocean. Why allow us to be left at the door, when behind that door is a small and cramped space, and in the divine infinity. We are alone, but not lonely. In every relationship we are alone, in society we are alone. Any union with others is too painful and unnatural.Amrita always looked for love again and again.
Longing for India
Amrita was tormented by longing for India, she wanted to return to her roots. She often said: I can only paint in India. Europe belongs to Picasso, Masis, Marriage… India belongs only to me.Her family loved wealth and power and was attached to the aristocracy.To marry her cousin Victor she flew to Hungary but didn’t stop painting. She clearly conveys the melancholy of missing India through her late 30’s winter snow covered outdoor scenes of Hungary. It was the time of Second World War. The destruction and sadness of power hunger world could have touched her increasing the element of sadness in the work. The flora, fauna, the energy, dynamism and new kind of connectedness which perhaps she missed in Europe brought her back to India once again. Amrita was something else.Amrita was more interested in the poor, the sick and the desperate. She was very close to Gandhi's understandings and his philosophy. She read his works and he was her role model, and so until 1937 she completely turned to painting the lives of Indians, as she saw them.Though skilled initially in western tradition Amrita in her second phase of work sheds the traces of that training by kissing good bye to her passion for Italian and French painters except a couple of French impressionists. The exotic nature of Indian art did get her eye too. Various elements from local murals, frescoes and miniature traditions helped her develop an unmistakable impress of an authentic style. A visit to Ajanta caves introduced her to the simplicity of form and color. The line drawing of the figures from that period confirms that inspiration she took from Ajanta murals.
A mysterious death
In 1938, Amrita Sher-Gil married her cousin from Hungary, Dr. Viktor Egan, and settled in India with him.In 1941, just a few days before the opening of her first major solo exhibition, Amrita Sher-Gill became seriously ill and fell into a coma. She died around midnight on December 6, 1941, leaving behind a huge number of works, even though she was only 28 years old.With a heart full of hopes and head filled with dreams Amrita arrives at Lahore along with her husband renting the flat 23 in Ganga Ram Mansion. It is only for four months she could imbibe the flavor of Lahore and the city lost the prospect of hosting a Sikh artist of grand caliber. After finalizing the venue, checking up on lights in the gallery and sorting out printed material she flew back to Shimla to pick up 30 something paintings for the second solo show not knowing that everyone else would be attending it except her.
The cause of death was never clarified. A debauched life, but also a poorly performed abortion are often mentioned as reasons. Amrita's mother blamed her husband, Dr. Viktor, for the death of her daughter, who, according to her mother, killed her out of jealousy.
However, these accusations have never been investigated due to historical circumstances. Namely, the day after Amrita's death, England declared war on Hungary and Viktor was sent to prison as an enemy of the state.
Amrita Sher-Gil was cremated on December 7, 1941. Her ashes rest forever in her beloved India where her works have been declared a national treasure.
Source Historical Entertainer image downloaded from Google
really nice story about this woman, first of all the pictures are beautiful to her, unfortunately she had a bad death.