Lot 43
George Keyt(Sri Lankan, 1901-1993)Maya and Radha, 1948
29 March 2019, 16:00 HKT
Hong Kong, Six Pacific PlaceHK$150,000 - HK$200,000
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George Keyt (Sri Lankan, 1901-1993)
Maya and Radha, 1948
signed and dated 'G Keyt 48', upper left.
oil on canvas
68 x 66.5 cm (26 3/4 x 26 1/8 in.)
signed and dated 'G Keyt 48', upper left.
oil on canvas
68 x 66.5 cm (26 3/4 x 26 1/8 in.)
Footnotes
喬治凱特 瑪雅及拉達 油彩畫布 一九四八年作
Provenance:
Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
Acquired from the above in 2006
In his enduring legacy as the most distinguished modern artist from Sri Lanka, George Keyt's vivid representations of Maya and Radha can be identified as one of the hallmarks of his artistic practice. Born in 1901, George Keyt started painting when he was 26 and developed a seminal style that grounds bounding lines and rich warmth of colour. A style that found its roots in Cubism, Fauvism and flourished under the influence of ancient South Asian fresco techniques found at Ajanta and Sigiriya.
A trademark of Keyt's figuration, the eyes of the two maidens in the painting bear the marks of the artist's signature stylisation, with their enlarged, almond-shaped eyes and exaggerated features with a focus on bold, crisp lines drawn from a distinct Cubist perspective. The blue, fauvist background of the scene conveys the life and exuberance of Sri Lanka and Keyt's love and passion for this land.