Mangli (whose name means `the auspicious one’) is a beautiful lady, with a regal bearing … always cheerful, smiling… She would come to do my laundry and I always wanted to paint her. But she never had the time to sit for me. Finally, I could manage to convince her to give me her black and white passport size photograph, around which I built this painting.
I am very fond of this painting because I think have managed to capture the essence of her personality.
On festivals Mangli would come to work decked up in her heavy silver jewellery and her brightest red `bandhni chunari'(tie and dye veil) . Her hands were rough from washing clothes – I used my artistic licence here!
I placed Mangli in the royal surroundings she was meant to be in!
The painting is framed with a red tie and dye around it. The glass prevents a closer look – but some details can be seen here.
Total size of the painting – 11.5″ X 8.25 ”
Medium – Water Colours on handmade paper
Year – 1997
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