(Partner of the painting “Woman in Blue”) airbrush on paper.
The depiction of this man is as simple as that of the woman in blue, his partner.
Mostly likely he was a labourer; he was walking around the same temple as the woman in blue. Look very carefully at him, his eyes are not clear and are devoid of any sparkle. The burdens of life have already made him aware of his limits, still he smiles. It was an excellent day for them when the couple went to the temple and, most likely, prayed for good luck.
Muchfreefood was available that day. Sweetmeats of all kinds, and all sorts of colourful fruits, and little trays with small offerings for the Goddess. There were balloons, and little flags in different colours that waved in the air. There were street vendors on the roadside who sold red and gold veils for the devotees to give to the Goddess. Throughout all this hung a diesel fuel haze wrapped in the smell of incense and roses.
My mother, who is a tapestry weaver, really liked this painting. She made a beautiful tapestry based on it that is just the same size as the original. It is included here.