MANJIT BAWA (1941–2008) PENCIL ON PAPERUNTITLED (TWO GOATS WITH TREE FORM) 1981 SIZE: 11 x 9 IN

A FINELY EXECUTED PENCIL DRAWING BY MANJIT BAWA, DATED 1981, DEPICTING TWO STYLIZED GOATS STANDING IN QUIET CONTEMPLATION BESIDE A SLENDER, SIMPLIFIED TREE FORM. RENDERED WITH DELICATE CONTOUR LINES AND SUBTLE HATCHING, THE ANIMALS EXHIBIT BAWA’S DISTINCTIVE SENSE OF VOLUME, RHYTHM, AND POETIC STILLNESS.

THE COMPOSITION REFLECTS THE ARTIST’S DEEP ENGAGEMENT WITH PASTORAL AND MYTHIC IMAGERY, WHERE ANIMALS ARE PRESENTED NOT MERELY AS NATURAL FORMS BUT AS SYMBOLIC AND SPIRITUAL PRESENCES. THE ECONOMY OF LINE AND GENEROUS NEGATIVE SPACE EMPHASIZE BAWA’S MODERNIST MINIMALISM, WHILE THE GRACEFUL CURVES AND CALM EXPRESSIONS EVOKE A TIMELESS, FOLKLORIC QUALITY ROOTED IN INDIAN VISUAL TRADITIONS.

SIGNED AND DATED LOWER RIGHT: “MANJIT ’81.”