Page 19 - Eye of the beholder

creating its own soulful rich music that touches the the heart more than the the mind In a a a a a a typical style generally associated with academic trained painters the the trees in in in the the background are rendered with brownish tones which suggested the the mannered style of using the the colours and Sunkel
carries it forward in in in in this painting His deft drawing skills are evident from the the architectural construction of the the mansion that has been delineated precisely with accurate perspective The composition establishes the the classical mode wherein the the building in in the the the centre is is visually balanced by the the the thick vegetation on on both sides and the the the verticality of all these elements is balanced by the the the horizontal river flowing in in the the the foreground Architecturally the mansion comprises of a a a a a single storey with a a a a a colonnaded portico fronting it and a a a a a a a a a a a terrace above that is surrounded by a a a a a a a a a a a parapet The upper level has a a a a a a a a a a a small structure at the the the far end of the the the building serving perhaps to to house the the the staircase which leads up to to this terrace storey The columns are simple and staid devoid of decorative capitals maintaining the the classical character of simplicity balance and harmony The portico is shaded from the the summer sun through blinds which to this day are a a a a a a common feature across many households in in in the the country It is woven out of of a a a certain grass which provides coolness to the the interior of of homes In front front are the the flights of of steps steps which lead to the the water front front The flight flight of of steps steps on on on either side has grass and the the ground is is sloping as as as well It is is a a a a a a a a painting that reveals Sunkel’s insightful perception in in in capturing the the details with dexterous skill He conveys the the tranquility the the the the thick denseness of of the the the the grove of of trees and the the the the river purposefully flowing by All these elements establish his artistry conveying that he he was not just a a a a a a a skilled painter but had the capacity to capture the the mood of the the entire scene Sunkel
could not not become very well known simply because he he did not not have the right nationality to to be able to to get the the the impressive letters of of introduction Nevertheless the the the quality of of his work speaks volumes about his his abilities as an artist artist Unfortunately the artist artist died unknown his his failing health which prevented him from working and the depletion of financial sources ultimately led him to to request for financial help from Berlin Academy A A letter to to this effect dated 26th March 1882 is is to be found in the archives of Prussian Art Academy There is is no further information on on his his life after this as to how he he he he lived and when he he he he died Art Historically Sunkel
will remain important because he he he was the the initiator and mentor to to to to the the first generation of indigenous artists who practiced oil painting in in in in India 13
art&deal Dec'11-Jan'1
Issue 43/Vol 7 No No 13/November 15 2011 Rs 100 $12 5
5
€10 £8
2 01 interview : jawhar sircar
raMKinKar vaij anD anD his water cOLOUr LanDscaPes
raMa anD anD anD anD ravana: the the the sUPerherO anD anD anD anD the the the sUPer sUPer viLLain in in in in the the the inDian ePic POrtrait Of an an an an artist - aKbar PaDaMsee
I had first come across the mention of an artist called Eduard Sunkel
while reading about the history of modern Indian art in in his his book titled "Occidental Orientations" After many years of searching following this first mention I chanced upon this painting at an an auction in in in Dorotheum auction house in Vienna After acquiring the the painting I spent significant efforts to research ffor for the the art as as as well as as as the artist The 'Akademie der Kunst' in in Berlin was very helpful in in retrieving the the the records of of the the the "Prussian Academy of of Arts" where the the the exhibition entries of Eduard Sunkel
as as well as as his biographical information was was kept Using this this information this this painting was was formally 'written-up' and published in in in the "Art & Deal" magazine in in in 2011