KRISHNAJI HOWLAJI ARA (1914-1985)UNTITLED, STILL LIFEOIL ON CANVAS

A LUSH AND ABUNDANT FLORAL STILL LIFE BY KRISHNAJI HOWLAJI ARA, THE CELEBRATED INDIAN MODERNIST AND FOUNDING MEMBER OF THE PROGRESSIVE ARTISTS’ GROUP, KNOWN FOR HIS EXPRESSIVE STILL LIFES AND FIGURE STUDIES, IN WHICH A DENSE BOUQUET OF DAISIES, ZINNIAS AND OTHER BLOOMS IN WHITE, ORANGE, YELLOW AND CRIMSON SPILLS FROM A DARK GREEN VASE. A FEW FALLEN BLOSSOMS LIE SCATTERED ON THE TABLE BELOW, ADDING A NATURAL, UNSTAGED CHARM TO THE ARRANGEMENT. THE FLOWERS ARE BUILT UP IN LOOSE, PAINTERLY DABS OF THICK COLOUR, WITH THE BRIGHT, SUN-LIT PETALS GLOWING AGAINST A SOFT, SMOKY BACKGROUND OF BLUE-GREY AND OLIVE. THE WORK REFLECTS ARA’S LIFELONG DEVOTION TO THE STILL LIFE AS A SUBJECT, CELEBRATING THE VIBRANCY OF FLOWERS THROUGH RICH IMPASTO, WARM COLOUR AND A SPONTANEOUS, INSTINCTIVE HAND