Women of the Hills

Women from the hilly Garhwal region of India, traditionally wear a headscarf round the year. The scarf is knotted firmly on the side. The lady with distinct Garhwali features looks beyond a river in search of her sheep.

With minimum use of colour the artist brings out the posture of a hill woman warming her hands against a bonfire on a winter morning. She looks at the fire and draws warmth and satisfaction.

The maid is depicted by a slightly wrinkled face, thick nose and features, with eyes closed and head down, possibly tired or in distress.

The artist has skilfully brought out the the defining features of a cunning lady, characterised here with a scarred face, long chin and menacing looks. The chicanery of the face is further accentuated through the shadow in black, as if casting a dark aura.

Through minimal strokes of the brush and using the shape of the stone, the artist drew out this simple village woman, adding special effects to her hair, a matter of pride for Garhwali women.

With help of a few contours on this face of the stone, the artist presents a lady from Himachal. Dressed in simple white and peach with big earrings, the forehead is covered with a scarf in typical Himachali style. 

An old woman from village with grey hair, a nose pin and expressionless eyes.

This oil painting shows a fearless hill woman crossing over dangerous snow clad pathways, carrying on her back a heavy bundle of firewood.