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Somnath Hore

Widely known for his activism and themes surrounding human suffering, Somnath Hore’s oeuvre was far more expansive than viewers often realise. Hore was a master in capturing the mundane and everyday, activities that we all take part in but never pay heed to, documenting them in any shape and form, carving a space in his visual language to capture these scenes through a variety of mediums, such as prints, sketches, watercolours, and even oils.

Moving away from his earlier monochromatic works, Hore began experimenting with dual or multiple colors in his etchings and lithographs from the mid 1950s. In this figurative lithograph of a man shaving, Hore relays a scene of routined life, discipline and self-care. The background, composed of whimsical, swirling yet intentional lines, is echoed in the composition of the figure itself in the shades of orange, black and pale blue. Tilting his head ever so slightly, he places the razor on his left cheek, foamed with soap. Gently pressing his skin for support with his other hand, the man steadies the razor to enact a swiping motion. Omitting the mirror from the composition, Hore creates a notion of the man appearing to look at a mirror with his tired eyes, whose gaze ultimately rests on the viewer. The bold lines reflect motion, and the use of particular colours almost gives the print a surreal appearance for an activity that is otherwise so unexciting.