Critique on the Nude

Bhaskaran’s untitled Nude, is a figurative work with hints of distortions; Bhaskaran usually paints his lone nudes this way.

The painting is done in a grey tone with the subject drawn in black ink. The viewer can see light horizontal lines that appear equidistant but willfully not collinear. The painting is mostly dotted with random brush strokes and dotes in light black colour, in an Impasto style; the paper material gives it a coarse textural feel. The viewer will notice random orange and saffron spots on the Nude. The whole scene is encircled within a bright yellow border. The bright yellow here gives the life energy to the painting; Bhaskaran with this one simple technique has given life to an otherwise morose painting.

The subject takes up the whole expanse of the painting, leaning on what seems to be a frame, which supports the subject as a wall and floor. However it’s eerie that the subject’s face is riddled with lines giving it a fiendish look. The subject is nonchalant and at ease in her space. Unlike typical disrobed paintings of women, Bhaskaran’s nude females display plenty of grit and strength of character. The image successfully emanates an atmosphere of profoundness. The nude is a contemplative analysis of Bhaskaran’s imagination led by his inspiration. In my opinion Bhaskaran is constantly studying shapes, sizes and colours through his paintings. Every painting is an experimental development that is based on the lessons from afore. For him, the likeness to reality is not pertinent; he follows his inspiration and lets his hands do the composition.

Bhaskaran draws inspirationally. At the point in time; this could have been a male, female or an animal. The subject of his paintings may vary (and be irrelevant), so long as the composition is ingrained with a message.

About R.B Bhaskaran

R.B. Bhaskaran is by far one of the most respected and talented artists to participate in the Madras Art Movement of the 1960s. He graduated from the Government College of Arts and Crafts in Chennai with a Diploma in Advanced Painting. He is also a renowned print maker, who studied the art of printmaking in the UK and Israel. R.B.Bhaskaran has been the judge at the Florence Biennale since 2005. Bhaskaran has received several awards for his works and his contribution to India Modern Art. He has served in many He was also the Chairman of the Lalit Kala Academy in New Delhi. He was the Principal of Madras School of Arts and Crafts.

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