B. Prabha (Indian, 1933-2001) Untitled (Village Scene)The Collection of Dr. Sandran WaranB. Prabha (Indian, 1933-2001)Untitled (Village Scene) signed 'B Prabha' lower right, executed circa early 1950sink and gouache on paper, framed38.5 x 49.5cm (15 3/16 x 19 1/2in).ProvenanceAcquired from Sotheby's, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, New York, September 2004, lot 156Born in Bela, Nagpur Prabha commenced her training in art at the Nagpur School of Art, before moving to Bombay where she earned her diploma in Painting and Mural painting from the Sir J J School of Art. She is primarily known for her trademark works illustrating rural women in their milieu, and the two works on offer in this auction are early examples of this. She depicted women from various tribal communities and focussed on important details such as their skin colour, attire and jewellery. In both works the women appear to be from the same community. They are married as evidenced by their naths (nose rings), mangalsutras (marriage necklace), toe rings and payals (anklets) and they are engaged in their daily activities. Prabha's accomplishment lies in chronicling and elevating the lives of women at a time when opportunities afforded to them were few and far in between. Prabha exhibited widely over her nearly five-decade long career both nationally and internationally. The Nobel prize nominee for physics, Homi J. Bhaha bought three of her works during her first exhibition whilst she was still a student. Later, the airline Air India acquired her works to display and use as part of their collection, which included other notable contemporaries like M.F. Husain and V.S. Gaitonde. Posthumously, her works continue to be exhibited at galleries that include Aicon Gallery in New York and Gallery Beyond in Mumbai and are testament to her timelessness as an artist.