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Title:
Amrita Sher-Gil
(A Biography)
Author:
N. Iqbal Singh
Publishers: Vikas Publishing House, India
(1984)
ISBN10:
0706924746
ISBN13:
978-0706924749
Content:
190 Pages, 54 Illustrations,
Complete Indepth Biography
Size:
6 ½" x 10" x ¾"
Synopsis:
At the time this
book was published, 1984, there was very little recorded material about
the life and art of Amrita Sher-Gil. This book is unique in that it was
written by someone who actually knew Amrita and spent personal time with
her as a close friend. The book is based on his own personal accounts
and interviews with family members and other close friends.
The book is written
in 18 chapters beginning with "Lineage and Childhood"
and ending with "The Tragic End" (I have to admit that
I read the last chapter first because I wanted to really know what happened
to her). In the center of the book are 24 pages of black/white images:
photographs, letters, and a few of her drawings and paintings. Near the
end of the book are 29 full color, but small, plates of her paintings.
The book is full of details about her life and is easy reading…no
dictionary or thesaurus needed for this one…great reading for reader's
whose primary language is not English. The flow of the timeline was a
bit confusing for me….it's not written in a clear chronological order…it's
more event driven. Scattered throughout the book are also some interesting
historical facts about India and its political turmoil and how it affected
the Sher-Gil family.
This is probably
the best book in terms of biographical information….not the greatest
if you are looking for photos or images of her works. It's interesting
that there is another book, "Amrita Sher-Gil - A Life"
that was just recently published in 2006. This new book is VERY similar
in format and content….right down to identically lines of text. Apparently
the copyright expired on the 1984 edition and text from that book appears
in the 2006 edition. The 1984 version is VERY difficult to find but the
2006 edition (described below) is readily available through Amazon.com.
If you're more interested in seeing her works and photos then I recommend
"Amrita Sher-Gil An Indian Artist Family of the Twentieth Century"
(described below)…however I didn't think much of the biographical
material in that book….but it is the best book for the plates.
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Title: Amrita
Sher-Gil (A Life)
Author:
Yashodhara Dalmia
Publishers: Penguin/Viking India (April 4, 2006)
ISBN10:
0670058734
ISBN13:
978-0670058730
Content: 230 Pages, 62 Illustrations,
18 of which are in color,
Complete Indepth Biography
Size:
9 ¼" x 6 ¼" x 1"
Synopsis:
From the inside
of the dust-jacket:
Amrita Sher-Gil's
life was as filled with passion and color as her canvasses. Beautiful
and brilliant, she lived life on her own terms, scandalizing the staid
society of her times with her love affairs and unconventional ways.
Born in 1913 in
Budapest, to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father, Amrita spent her
early years in Hungary, India, and in France, where she studied at the
renowned Escole des Beaux Arts. Before her untimely death in 1941, she
left behind a body of work that not only establishes her as one of the
foremost artist of the century but also as a most eloquent symbol of fusion
between East and West.
In this fascinating
biography, art historian Yashodhara Dalmia charts the course of Amrita's
turbulent life, and the development of her dazzling artistic career, as
she traces the influences that shaped her, examines her relationships
with her family, friend, lovers and mentors, and captures her charismatic
aura. Extensively researched and brimming with reminiscences of those
who knew Amrita, this is a compelling portrait of the artist who, when
she died at the tragically young age of twenty-eight, was probably unaware
of her own greatness and of her priceless legacy to Indian art.
My Synopsis:
Unlike the 1984
biography, "Amrita Sher-Gil - A Biography", the author
of this book never met Amrita. This book is based on interviews, documents,
and photos provided by Amrita's friends and ex-husband, Victor Egan. The
format and content of this book is VERY similar to the 1984 biography
"Amrita Sher-Gil - A Biography". The book is divided
into fourteen chapters and each chapter contains sub-chapters. Throughout
the book there are 8 pages of black/white photos and 16 pages of color
plates of her works. The book is very well written, lots of informative
detailed biographical material and easy reading. If you are more interested
in seeing her works, then I recommend "Amrita Sher-Gil - An Indian
Artist Family of the Twentieth Century"….it's a larger coffee-table
size book full of color plates…but I didn't think much of the biographical
material in that book.
Usually
available on amazon.com (New & Used)
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Title:
Amrita Sher-Gil
(An
Indian
Artist Family of the
Twentieth Century)
Author:
Publisher: Schirmer/Mosel (July 20, 2007)
ISBN10:
3829602707
ISBN13:
978-3829602709
Content:
160 Pages, 105 llustrations
Size:
12 ½" x 9" x ¾"
Synopsis:
This
book was published in conjunction with the Amrita Sher-Gil exhibitions
held at:
Haus der Kunst
Munich, Germany
3 October 2006 - 7 January 2007
Tate Modern
London, England
28 February - 22 April 2007
The
first 31 pages of this 160 page book are text: A 2 page Forward, a 3 page
Introduction and an 18 page essay. But...before you start reading any
of these get out the full unabridged version of the dictionary because
you're going to need it to plow your way through this pile of text. These
were obviously written by PhDs who are impressed with their command of
the English language and aren't afraid to use every "BIG" word
they could possibly think of... (I don't think some of them are even real
words). What we have here is a classic case of "failure to communicate".
If English is not your primary language don't even attempt it.
Fortunately,
there is a short two page bio in the back of the book that says it all
in plain English.
As
the title implies, this book is not just about Amrita. Although most of
it is devoted to Amrita, there is a considerable amount of information
about other members of her immediate family, especially her father.
There
are 105 plates in this book...photographs and paintings...mostly color
but some B/W. They are priceless and worth the cost of the book. There
is also some commentary about some of the paintings that attempts to explain
their meaning.
There
is a Chronology in the back but it's very brief and insignificant.
If
you are looking for informative biographical material, then I recommend
one of the books listed above. Buy this one for the plates.
Usually
available on amazon.com (New & Used)
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