Still Life

This undated work is a still-life painting by modern artist K H Ara (1914-1985).

KH Ara’s still-life compositions were all his own, untouched by the shadow of the looming figures of western still-life like Rembrandt or Cezanne. As with everything else, Ara crafted his own style and technique even with this form. Here, he uses techniques that create an illusion of perspective. The fruits, the table and the tablecloth are painted dark and bold to show their closeness to the viewer. 

Born in 1913 in Andhra Pradesh, KH Ara did not receive formal training or art education. He was an entirely self-taught artist and became one of the founding members of the Progressive Artists’ Group in Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Calcutta and Baroda (1948-1955).