Somnath Hore

This undated artwork is a double-sided artwork, where Somnath Hore has used both sides of the paper to draw two different works. The sketch on the left demonstrates Hore’s experimental approach to portraiture. The face is divided into two contrasting halves — one calm and illuminated, the other darker and shaded — creating a duality of expression. The use of simple lines combined with soft washes of blue adds dimension without overwhelming detail. The cigarette in the mouth adds a casual, almost modernist touch, while the rectangular framing around the face suggests Hore’s concern with composition and spatial balance. The work reflects his ability to fuse figuration with abstraction, allowing a portrait to carry both structure and ambiguity. The drawing captures a sense of quiet introspection tinged with melancholy. The split face embodies inner conflict — light and shadow, serenity and unease, hope and despair. The closed eyes hint at withdrawal into oneself, while the faint smile and cigarette suggest a fragile attempt at composure amidst struggle. In the language of Somnath Hore, who often sought to express human pain with honesty, this sketch feels like a moment of pause — where suffering and resilience coexist within a single face. It is both intimate and universal, mirroring the complexity of the human condition.