Review by Booklist Review
A book like this reminds us that there really is nothing that cannot be learned about through children's books. Sriram and Sharma bring to life the little-known story of an artist who crossed literal and figurative borders in her life and with her art. Amrita Sher-Gil grew up in Hungary and India, her parents' homelands, and was a talented artist from a young age. Amrita's family nurtured her artistic inclinations, sending her to art school for formal training. The narrative is straightforward and spare, providing salient details about Amrita's cultural and familial influences, as well as her development into an unconventional artist ahead of her time. Textured illustrations in the warm red, ocher, and orange colors that Amrita loved provide details and movement, highlighting the artist's journey to create art that reflected who she was and what she witnessed around her. A powerful biography that will inspire readers who can relate to being biracial and bicultural, artistic, motivated, determined, and curious.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Born to a Hungarian mother and an Indian father, Amrita Sher-Gil spent her early childhood in her mother's homeland, creating fanciful art inspired by the world around her. When she was 8, the family moved to India, where her art matured considerably. Noticing her talent, her family insisted that she take formal lessons to hone her craft. At first, Amrita obliged, but soon she chafed against the restrictions and the structure, preferring to rely instead on her own instincts and imagination. Following her own path, Amrita created art that blended Eastern and Western traditions and that celebrated womanhood. Eventually, her family returned to Europe specifically so Amrita could study art in Paris. Although she learned a great deal, after a few years, Amrita found Europe stifling, and she returned to India. There, her practice blossomed as she pioneered new visual traditions, pushing the boundaries of the Western-centric artistic world. Unfortunately, her genius was cut short by her untimely death at the age of 28. This lyrical picture-book biography not only celebrates Sher-Gil's rebellious brilliance, it also frankly examines the challenges and opportunities presented by having a mixed heritage. While much of Sher-Gil's life and work involved highly adult themes, this book addresses these issues in a child-friendly manner without hiding the truth. The innovative illustrations include more than a few touches of surrealism to evoke the inner life of the artist and present at least one topless female figure, reflecting Sher-Gil's style. A lyrical picture-book introduction to the life of a feminist artistic genius. (biographical note, bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 7-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
