"To Reflect" by Shahzia Sikander

1047 Words5 Pages
Art Appreciation HUM1020

“To Reflect” by Shahzia Sikander

November 16, 2012

“To Reflect” by Shahzia Sikander

In this essay, I will evaluate and offer a critical analysis of “To Reflect” (2004) by the contemporary artist, Shahzia Sikander. The work of art, done in miniature, is one of Ms. Sikander’s more obscure paintings, but is a glamorous boudoir piece with great aesthetics, worth a second look, viewable at: http://dailyimprint.blogspot.com/2008/02/out-and-about-mind-bending-art.html (Walton). The seductive beauty of this painting goes beyond the lady’s partially covered body; both her mood and pose is sexy, innocent, and a bit mysterious, a great accomplishment in the world of art today.
On a pink background, the painting shows a curvy young lady, posing in a sitting position with her legs curled underneath. Dressed in little more than white beads, possibly pearls, they layer her neck and drape from her head to her shoulders like a long sheer veil. While part of the veiling is wrapped seductively around her arm, the rest extends beyond her curly black hair and down her back, completely surrounding her knees. A stylish little hat sits at a precarious angle on her head, helping her dark hair obscure over half her face and one eye. On her lap is a large pink and flowery object that matches her hat. With the assistance of more white beading, the placement of this item serves to cover her lower half and projects the pretense of modesty. With a hand on her hip, she tilts her head flirtatiously to the left while she fingering the open loop of the necklace that dangles down the front to her waistline. Although she appears nude, there are no actual contours defining her torso.
The visible eye and poutiness of the mouth are not treated with enhanced coloring or the dramatic use of cosmetics; yet, the model’s facial features clearly send us a message

More about "To Reflect" by Shahzia Sikander

Open Document