Fifty shades of grey

French-born artist Maite Delteil is known for her colourful picturesque oil paintings that capture the beauty of nature in all its vibrant glory. However, in an ongoing exhibition at Colaba-based gallery Art Musings, rare graphite drawings that the 85-year-old had created over four decades ago are on display for the first time. The show, which is titled The Secret Sea, Drawings from the ’70s, also depicts a series of drawings that she had executed for a book Louis XIII enfant published in the early ’80s. Staying true to her style, all these black-and-white sketches showcase Maite’s attention to detail and how she strikes a balance between nature and artifice. The drawings about Louis XIII not only give viewers a sneak peek of the French king’s childhood but also scenes from West European country’s history.

Maite, who is married to esteemed Indian artist Sakti Burman, says she started working on these graphite drawings accidentally in an attempt to keep herself pre-occupied. She elaborates, “In the ’70s, I was quite busy with my family life as my daughter, Maya, was born in 1971. So, it was difficult for me to concentrate on oil painting. Instead, I found it more beneficial to express myself through small works that didn’t take up so much of my time. I didn’t have to wash any brushes or open/close any tubes of colours after working.”

Today, looking at these creations after such a long time has given new insights to Maite, who lives and works in Paris and New Delhi. She elaborates, “I did these drawings silently and never exhibited them. A few of my friends saw them and bought them. I enjoyed working like this where I focussed on the small details. It was a nice feeling when I was offered to show them in Mumbai. These sketches are still alive in my memory, so I wasn’t surprised to look at them again. However, now, I see them admirably as I’ll no longer be able to do such technically good work due to my eyes. Back in those days, as a myopic person, my short-sightedness permitted me to do this kind of precise work.”

As for the illustrations for Louis XIII Enfant, she states that as it was a new subject and had a lot of references to history, she had to do ample research.

Hailing from Fumel, south-western France, Maite has grown up in the lap of nature. No wonder, the octogenarian, who has exhibited in Europe, the USA, Japan, and India, is deeply influenced by the flora and fauna, which 
feature prominently in almost all her paintings. Quiz her about this preoccupation and she says, “Flowers, trees, birds, in short, nature has always been present in my work. Born in the colourful and lush countryside of France, I have surely missed all my life the presence of this familiar environment. Perhaps I’m trying to recollect it. Who knows! But it is neither a wish from my part neither a manifestation for nature even if I feel concerned by the subject.”

Maite Delteil, The Secret Sea, Drawings from the 70s is on at Art Musings, Colaba from 11 am-7 pm till December 29.