Plate 1. Oil on board | 13,5x8,5 cm.

The title was given by the Mother. The painting exemplifies the spontaneous, unpremeditated character of a good part of her later work. The story behind it helps to explain its "modern" appearance. During the early 1920s Sri Aurobindo's brother, Barin, was doing some oil painting under the Mother's guidance. As is the common practice of artists, a small board was kept for depositing the surplus paint left on the palette after each session. A random mixture of colours covered most of the surface of this board. One day when Barin had finished his work the Mother asked for the palette and, with the remaining paint, gave a few deft brush strokes to the centre of the board covered with old palette-scrapings. Thus the painting was completed.

 

PHOTO ID: 00511

SOURCE: The Mother. Paintings and Drawings.- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 1992.- 198 p.