Bidspirit auction | Kanwal Krishna (Indian, 1910-1993) Oil

Kanwal Krishna (Indian, 1910-1993) Oil on Canvas, Woman Churning Curd, Signed & Dated - Kanwal Krishna's Woman Churning Curd is an oil on canvas painting that captures a traditional everyday rural scene, showcasing his transition from an academic, observational painter to an early pioneer of Indian modernism. Kanwal depicts a woman seated on a dirt floor dressed in a brown tunic and dupatta, as she performs the traditional domestic task of churning butter, operating a wooden hand-churn set inside a large terracotta vessel. The composition is characterized by a warm, earthy palette and rich ethnographic detailing, surrounding the figure with traditional terracotta vessels, a clay stove, storage pots balanced on a branch stand, and a hen with a chick. Executed with meticulous detailing and precise brushwork, this rare early piece reflects Krishna's deep fascination with human movement, regional heritage, and natural light before his historic travels to Tibet. The work is signed Kanwal and dated 38 in the lower left corner. Dimensions: 28”W x 22”H Date or Era: 1938 Weight: 3.8 lbs Condition: Good