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Lot 31

This painting is a slight shift from Souza`s rendering of faces, done in oil. The hues create a mood of serenity, although the darkness of the work and the gesturing make it contemplative. This work is fairly serene and has devised a space to ponder on the mood of the profile, as the face is not dehumanized like his other heads. This work lends itself to contradictory forces where the image of the girl looks traditionally ornamented and... This painting is a slight shift from Souza`s rendering of faces, done in oil. The hues create a mood of serenity, although the darkness of the work and the gesturing make it contemplative. This work is fairly serene and has devised a space to ponder on the mood of the profile, as the face is not dehumanized like his other heads. This work lends itself to contradictory forces where the image of the girl looks traditionally ornamented and conventional, but the rendering of the form is angular and modern.

"How much Souza`s pictures derive from western art and how much from the hieratic temple traditions of his own country, I cannot say. Analysis breaks down and intuition takes over. It is obvious that he is a superb designer and draughtsman. But I find it quite impossible to assess his work comparatively. Because he straddles several traditions and serves none." (John Berger, The New Statesman, 1955 `from a review on a exhibition in the same year`)

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