Durga, Mithila, by Jyoti Bhatt, 1977

The works of painter, printmaker, and photographer, Padma Shri Jyoti Bhatt, covers a diverse range of themes, seen through his unique prism that is sometimes profound, sometimes witty, and always sensitive to its subjects.

From portraits to photographic studies of folk traditions to finding ways to express a post-Independent India at the cusp of a deep-rooted culture and modern ideas, Bhatt’s work across the second half of the 20th century spans many spectrums. This particular image, part of the Rural Studies section of the online exhibition, titled Time and Time Again, curated by Nathaniel Gaskell (founder and director of the MAP Academy— the education arm of the Museum of Art & Photography, Bengaluru), is a perfect example of his brilliant eye for the artistic in the realistic. Not only does the picture portray the folk artist working on a mural of Durga-Mahishasurmardini, but the way the contours of her body are reflected in the lines of her creation elevates it to art.

Bhatt, a master of black and white photography using available light, catches the woman’s devotion and dedication evocatively reflected in her eyes. With the season of welcoming goddess Durga upon us, this photograph takes us into the inner sanctum of women across India, be it in the west like this artist from Vadodara in Gujarat or in other parts of the country, where women eagerly await the coming of the deity that promises them acceptance and agency, freedom and fulfillment.