K.S. KULKARNI (INDIA, 1916-1994) CHARCOL ON PAPER ABSTRACT FIGURAL STUDY

THIS CHARCOAL DRAWING BY K.S. KULKARNI (INDIA, 1916–1994) PRESENTS A FLUID AND RHYTHMIC ABSTRACT FIGURAL FORM, RENDERED WITH EXPRESSIVE LINE AND TONAL VARIATION. THE COMPOSITION UNFOLDS AS A CONTINUOUS, SERPENTINE MOVEMENT ACROSS THE SURFACE, SUGGESTING A HUMAN OR ORGANIC PRESENCE WITHOUT FIXED ANATOMY, A HALLMARK OF KULKARNI’S MODERNIST EXPLORATIONS.

EXECUTED IN CHARCOAL ON PAPER, THE WORK EMPHASISES TEXTURE AND GESTURAL ENERGY, WITH ALTERNATING AREAS OF DENSE SHADING AND OPEN LINE WORK CREATING A SENSE OF VOLUME AND MOTION. THE AGED PAPER GROUND ENHANCES THE DRAWING’S TACTILE AND INTIMATE QUALITY.

K.S. KULKARNI WAS A SIGNIFICANT FIGURE IN MODERN INDIAN ART, KNOWN FOR HIS EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH TO FORM AND HIS ABILITY TO BRIDGE FIGURATION AND ABSTRACTION. THIS WORK STANDS AS A COMPELLING EXAMPLE OF HIS DRAWING PRACTICE AND HIS SEARCH FOR ESSENTIAL, POETIC EXPRESSION THROUGH LINE AND MOVEMENT.