-200 Catalogue of Paintings and Drawings.htm

The two lists below give briefly the details that are available about the paintings and drawings reproduced in this volume. For more information about the background of some of the works, references are made to the article, "The Mother as an Artist".

The exact year is usually known with certainty only for works dated by the Mother. Otherwise, an approximate date indicated by "circa" (c.) or a range of possible dates is suggested. Most often we at least know whether the work was done in France, Algeria, Japan or India. The range of dates may be narrowed down further on the basis of our knowledge of the Mother’s main periods of artistic activity, combined sometimes with considerations of stylistic development or clues provided by the subject matter.

In some cases, the original is not available to us and the reproduction has had to be made from an earlier print or negative or from a print or transparency supplied by the owner. The size of the original may then be unknown to us.

Subject to these qualifications, the information supplied below is as complete and accurate as our knowledge allows.

The Mother did not sign all her works. In France, when she signed her paintings, she used to sign her name in full: "Mirra Alfassa". Works from her Japanese period and some early drawings in Pondicherry are signed with "M" and "A" in the form of a monogram. (This can be seen clearly in the portrait of Barindra Kumar Ghose on p. 76.) The later drawings carry the signature we are today familiar with. An enlargement of this signature may be seen on the title page of this book.

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The Paintings

1. Divine Consciousness Emerging from the Inconscient

The title was given by the Mother. For the story behind the painting, Oil on board. 13.5 x 8.5 cm, 1920-25. Pondicherry.

2. Lady on the Staircase (p. 13)  

The interior of "Manoir de Cantepie", a manor house in Cambremer, Normandy. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated:MirraAlfassaIO3.SOx44.5cm.I903. France.

3. Interior with Bright Vases

The painting has darkened so much that no proper reproduction is possible. Nothing of the original colours and detailed work can _ seen. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated: Mirra Alfassa/O3. 45.5x62cm.1903. France.

4. A Musician’s Room

Interior of the house of the composer Camille Erlanger. The colours have lost their original charm. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated: Mirra Alfassa/O4. 58.5 x 71 cm. 1904. France.

5. A Landscape with Church Tower  

This painting was executed at Tavers near the country home of the Morissets in Beaugency on the Loire. It has deteriorated and the freshness of the colours is lost. Oil on board. 15×20.5cm. CI897-1908. France.

6. A Chair

A painting done in the studio of Abel Faivre, a famous caricaturist. Oil on board. Signed: Mirra Alfassa. 21 x 13 cm. C. 1897-1908. France.

7. Two White Vases

Oil on board. 13.5 x 21 cm. C. 1897-1908. France.

8. An Interior with a Vase

Oil on board. 14.5 x 20.5 cm. C 1897-1908, France,

9. An Interior

Oil on board. 21.5 x 14 cm. C 1897-1908, France.

10. An Interior

Oil on board. Signed: M. 21.5 x 13 cm. CI897-1908. France.

11. Grapes

This painting won a first prize in Paris, probably at one of the monthly competitions at the Academie Julian. It had the charm and clarity of brush strokes now noticed with difficulty. Oil on canvas. 26 x 39 cm. 1893-97. France.

12. A Friend’s Garden

The Mother is reported to have said that while meditating in this garden, she had the experience of identity with the earth. The garden may be that of Themanlys in Courseulles, Normandy. The colours of the painting have deteriorated. Oil on board. 13.5 x 18 cm. e. 1905. France.

13. The Studio of an Artist

This painting was done in the studio of Charles Duvent, a painter. It has darkened so much that the colour reproduction is only as good as a black and white reproduction. It is being reproduced for its documentary value. Oil on canvas. 44.5 x 45 cm. e. 1897-1908. France.

14. A Room in a Castle

Probably a room in the Chateau de Beaugency. The colours have deteriorated. Oil on board. 18 x 26 cm. e. 1897-1908. France.

15. The Hearth

The colours have cracked and have made furrows. Oil on board. 17 x 13 cm. e. 1897-1908. France.

16. Interior of a Library

It seems this was done in the Musee de CIuny, Paris. The painting has darkened so much that the reproduc­tion is not clear. The colours are also peeling off. There is some doubt about its authorship. The reproduction in this was done after restoration, but is not true to the colours of the original. The damaged painting, before restoration, is shown in black and white at the end (p. 151). Oil on canvas. 50 x 40 cm. e. 1897-1908. France.

17. Early Study

Oil on canvas. Signed and dated: Mirra Alfassa /1895. 59 x 44.5 cm. 1895. France.

18. Early Study

Oil on canvas. 54 x 48 cm. e. 1895. France.

19. Early Study

Oil on canvas. Signed: Mirra Alfassa. 54 x 44 cm. e. 1895. France.

20. Theon’s House, "Zarif"

Theon is seen with his dog. This painting and the one printed as 22 are in the collection of Pascal Themanlys, whose father first introduced the Mother to Theon. They are reproduced here from photographic prints supplied by him. Oil on board. Dated: ZarifO6. Size not known. 1906. Algeria.

21. Theon’s House

Oil on board. 15.5 x 23.5 cm. 1906-7. Algeria.

22. Theon’s Garden

See the remarks on 20. Oil on board. Size not known. 1906-7. Algeria.

23. A Vision

The Mother said she did this painting in France and did not have time to finish it. A pencil sketch for it is

reproduced on p. 135 (No. 112). Oil on board. 13 x 21 cm. e. 1903-8. France.

24. An Apparition

This painting, done in Pondicherry, is not traceable at present. The colour reproduction is made from an earlier print, which had the title "The Moon Goddess (‘Apparition’)". There was a first sketch for it which is reproduced on p. 121. Oil on board. 11.5 x 9 cm. 1920-30. Pondicherry.

25. Shoulders

This is a fine example of the Mother’s paintings done in France. Oil on board. 14.5x 11 cm. e. 1903-8. France.

26. Sleeping Woman

This painting is badly peeling off as is evident from the lower end of the reproduction. A fine work in the impressionist style. Oil on canvas. 65 x 65 cm. Signed: Mirra Alfassa. e. 1903-8. France.

27. Andre as a Postman

The Mother’s son in a postman’s dress. He was about ten years old when this painting was done. Oil on board. 23.5 x 13.5 cm. e. 1908. France.

28. Andre

Portrait of the Mother’s son, Andre Morisset, when he was four or five years old. Oil on board. 11.5 x 10.5 cm. e. 1903. France.

29. Portrait of a Loving Friend

This portrait of Mme Valentine is done on a small piece of ivory. The Mother presented it to Ms. Maggi Lidchi, one of her disciples, in whom she recognised a reincarnation of her friend. Mme Valentine, a close friend of the Mother’s during her days in the art studio, died in childbirth just before the Mother’s son, Andre, was born. Oil on ivory. 9.5 x 6.5 cm. e. 1897. France.

30. Japanese Poet Hirasawa Tetsuo

This excellent portrait of poet and artist Hirasawa Tetsuo is still in fairly good condition. It was done in one sitting. Hirasawa later visited the Mother in Pondicherry (October 1924). Oil on board. 19.5 x 14 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

31 & 32. Kobayashi in her Room

This portrait of the Mother’s friend Nobuko Kobayashi was done in Kyoto. She is here preparing some medicine. Oil on canvas. 32.5 x 44 cm. e. 1917-18. Japan.

33 & 34. Mrs. Okhawa in her Balcony

This portrait of Mrs. Okhawa in a balcony overlooking Noshiri Lake was probably done when the Mother stayed with her in Kyoto one summer. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated: MA (monogram) /18. 32.5 x 44 cm. 1918. Japan.

35. Trees of Daiunji Temple

The Mother and Paul Richard visited the Daiunji temple in Sarashina, about 200 km northwest of Tokyo, between 12 and 15 September 1918. Plates 36 and 41 and drawings Nos. 131 and 132 (p. 144) were also done here. Oil on board. Signed: MA (mono­gram). 15 x 22.5 cm. 1918. Japan.

36. Roof of Daiunji Temple

Oil on board. Signed: MA (monogram). 15 x 22.5 cm. 1918. Japan.

37. Snow on a Tree

Snow on a tree in a Kyoto garden. Signed: MA (mono­gram). Oil on board. 15 x 22.5 cm. 1917-18. Japan.

38. A Japanese Lady with a Lantern

This is evidently a copy of a Japanese wood-block print. It was done when the Mother was in France, most probably near the end of the nineteenth century. The painting is in a bad state and the colours are peel­ing off. The reproduction is electronically repaired. The actual condition of the painting is shown in black and white at the end (p. 152). Oil on board: 64 x 46.5 cm. C. 1893-1900. France.

39. Image of Buddha

This small painting was probably started by a student and finished by the Mother. Oil on board. 14 x 8.5 cm. 1920-30. Pondicherry.

40. Mural in the Church at Pau

This mural in the church at Pau, a town in the south of France, is signed OH Morisset 1898". The lower part of the painting was done by the Mother (see pp. 160-61). The painting depicts a battle between Christians and Moors. Saint James of Compostela, patron saint of the church, appears on a white horse. 1898. France.

41. Scroll of Daiunji Temple

This scroll was done on Japanese paper and mounted as a kakemono. For the calligraphic writing in Japanese, 171. Ink on paper. Signed in Japanese. 136 x 67 cm. 1918. Japan.

42. An Early Portrait (p. 149)

Recently found in the private collection of Dr. Lapey­sonnie in France. Oil on canvas. Signed and dated: Mirra Alfassa 197. Size not known. 1897. France.

43. La Console

Reproduced from the catalogue of the 1905 exhibition of the Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts. The original painting has not been traced. C. 1905. France.

44. Portrait of Mrs. Kobayashi

A miniature on ivory done in Japan and presented to Madame Kobayashi. Oil on ivory. Size not known. C. 1917-18. Japan.

45. Goddess Kwannon

A painting of the Japanese goddess Kwannon, Goddess of Mercy. It was done for the cover of a book in Bengali by Nolini Kanta Gupta, NarirKatha. c.1930. Pondicherry.

46. Flower Study

Study of a rose in oils to demonstrate the technique of oil-painting to a student. Oil on board. 17.5 x 14.5 cm. 1950-60. Pondicherry.  

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The Drawings  

1. Sri Aurobindo. Pencil. 15 x 10 cm. 1935. Pondicherry.

2. Self-portrait. Pencil. 29.5 x 21 cm. 1935. Pondicherry.

3. Self-portrait (Detail). Pencil. 29.5 x 21 cm. 1935. Pondicherry.

4. Self-portrait. Pencil. 1934. Pondicherry. 5. Self-portrait. Pencil. 1948. Pondicherry.

6. Self-portrait. Pencil. 29.5 x 21 cm. 1948. Pondicherry.

7. Self-portrait (Detail). Pencil. 29.5 x 21 cm. 1948. Pondicherry.

8. Self-portrait. Pen & Ink. 1947. Pondicherry. 9. Self-portrait. Pen & Ink. 1948. Pondicherry.

10. Self-portrait. Ink & Wash. 21 x 16.6 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

11. Mother’s Eyes. Pencil. C. 1935-40. Pondicherry.

12. Mother’s Hand. Pencil. 1933. Pondicherry. 13. Mother’s Foot. Pencil. 1934. Pondicherry.

14. Mira Ismalun (The Mother’s maternal grand­ mother). Pencil. 15 x 10 cm. 1905. France.

15. MaxTheon. Pencil. 29 x 19.5 cm. C. 1906. Algeria.

16. Rabindranath Tagore. Pencil. 11.3 x 10 cm. 1916. Japan. The Mother met Tagore in Japan in 1916 and 1919 (170).

17. Rabindranath Tagore. Brush & Ink. 18 x 10 cm. 1916. Japan. This drawing, along with No. 18, seems to have been rendered in brush and ink from the first pencil sketch done on 11 June, 1916.

18. Rabindranath Tagore. Brush & Ink. 18 x 10 cm. 1916. Japan.

19. Poet Hayashi. Japanese poet and artist. Brush & Ink. 25 x 17 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

20. Poet Hayashi. Brush & Ink. 25 x 17 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

21. Daughter of the Prime Minister of China. Brush & Ink. 25 x 18 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

22. Daughter of the Prime Minister of China. Brush & Ink. 25 x 18 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

23. Nobuko Kobayashi (Mother’s friend in Kyoto, whose husband was a leader of the "still-sitting" movement). Brush & Ink. 25 x 17 cm. C. 1917-18. Japan.

24. Japanese woman. Pencil. 21.5 x 19 cm. 1916-20. Japan.  

25. Paul Richard. Brush & Ink. 1918. Japan. This portrait was drawn by the Mother in the Visitors’ Book at Daiunji Temple.

26. The Captain of a Japanese Ship. Brush & Ink. 19 x 25.5 cm. 1919. Japan.

27. The Captain of a Japanese Ship. Brush & Ink. 19 x 25.5 cm. 1919. Japan.

28. James H. Cousins (Irish poet). Brush & Ink. 24.5 x 15.5 cm. 1920. Pondicherry. The Mother first met James Cousins in Japan and later in Pondicherry in 1920.

29. James H. Cousins. Brush & Ink. 24.5 x 15.5 cm. 1920. Pondicherry.

30. Amrita (Aravamudachari). Brush & Ink. 1920. Pon­dicherry .

31. Moni (Suresh Chakravarti). Brush & Ink. 24.5 x 14.5 cm. 1920. Pondicherry.

32. Purushottam Patel. Brush & Ink. 24x 17.5cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

33. Purushottam Patel. Brush & Ink. 26 x 21 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

34. Chandulal Shah. Brush & Ink. 1931. Pondicherry.

35. Vasudha Shah. Brush & Ink. 28.5 x 21 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

36. Diana Mathot. Brush & Ink. 1956. Pondicherry.

37. Eric Bass (American artist). Brush & Ink. 39 x 27 cm. 1956. Pondicherry.

38. Pavitra (Philip Barbier de St. Hilaire). Pen & Ink. 1947. Pondicherry.

39. Pavitra. Pencil. 1930. Pondicherry. This portrait, along with No. 40, was done on graph paper, the lines of which have been electronically removed (see p.152).

40. Pavitra. Charcoal. 22.5 x 12.5 cm. 1932. Pondicherry.

41. Pavitra. Charcoal. 16.5 x 15 cm. C. 1930. Pondicherry.

42. Barindra Kumar Ghose (Younger brother of Sri Aurobindo). Pencil. 21.5 x 14 cm. 1920. Pondicherry.

43. Nolini Kanta Gupta. Charcoal. 48 x 31 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

44. Doraiswami Aiyar. Charcoal. 48 x 39 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

45. Anilbaran Roy. Charcoal. 31 x 24 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

46. Chandulal Shah. Charcoal. 48 x 31 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

47. Vasudha Shah. Charcoal. 31 x 23.5 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

48. Champaklal Purani. Pencil. 1935. Pondicherry.

49. Champaklal Purani. Pencil. 22.5 x 16.5 cm. 1959. Pondicherry.

50. Unidentified. Charcoal. 16xI2.5cm. Pondicherry.

51. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1949. Pondicherry.

52. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1951. Pondicherry.

53. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1949. Pondicherry.

54. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. C. 1950. Pondicherry.

55. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1951. Pondicherry..

56. Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1951. Pondicherry.

57. Dyuman (Chunilal Patel). Pen & Ink. 13 x 9 cm. 1947.Pondicherry.

58. Shanti Doshi. Pen & Ink. 13 x 9 cm. 1947. Pondicherry.

59. Ambu (Ambalal Desai). Pencil. 18 x 14 cm. 1947. Pondicherry.

60. Romen Palit. Pencil. C. 1935. Pondicherry.

61. Ali Hyderi (Son of Sir Akbar Hyderi, Hyderabad). Pen & Ink. 25.5 x 19.5 cm. 1947. Pondicherry.

62. Alice Hyderi (French wife of Ali Hyderi). Pen & Ink. 22.5 x 18.5 cm. 1947. Pondicherry.

63. Tara Jauhar. Pen & Ink. 1949. Pondicherry.

64. Datta (Miss Dorothy Hodgson, who was with the Mother in Japan and accompanied her to Pondicherry in 1920). Pencil. 25.5 x 20.5 cm. 1919. Japan.

65. A Lady with a Hat (Miss Dorothy Hodgson). Pencil. 20.5 x 17 cm. 1919. Japan.

66. Vasudha Shah. Pencil. Pondicherry. Inscribed by the Mother in French (trans.: "It is your portrait when you laugh, your head on my knees").

67. Vasudha Shah. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

68. Kamala Amin. Pencil. C. 1935. Pondicherry.

69. Chinmayi (Mehdi Begum of Hyderabad). Pencil. 15 x 11 cm. 1931. Pondicherry.

70. Priti Das Gupta. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

71. Violette Indra Sen. Pencil. 22x 14cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

72. Bratati Bhattacharya (Millie). Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

73. Anima Ganguli (Minnie). Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

74. Gauri Bhattacharya. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

75. Gauri Bhattacharya. Pencil. 1957. Pondicherry.

76. Bina Bhattacharya. Pencil. 20 x 14 cm. 1949. Pon­dicherry .

77. Debou Bhattacharya. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

78. Amiyo Ganguli. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. 1949. Pondicherry.

79. Chitra Jauhar. Pen & Ink. 1953. (Done in a class notebook.) Pondicherry.

80. Wilfy (Wilfred Pinto). Pencil. 9 x 20 cm. 1951. Pondicherry.

81. Rene (Aga Syed Yakub of Hyderabad). 1930. Pondicherry.

82. A Boy’s Face. Pencil. 15.x 10 cm. Pondicherry.

83. A Boy’s Face. Pencil. 15 x 10.5 cm. Pondicherry.

84. My Three Young Friends (Chum, Bubu, Jhumur). Pencil. 9 x 21 cm. C. 1946. Pondicherry.

85. A Girl with a Bow. Pencil. 25 x 17 cm. 1916-20. Japan.

86. Two figures. Pencil. 12 x 6.4 cm. France.

87. Tarini Patil. Pen & Ink. C. 1956. Pondicherry. 

88. Agami Reddy. Pen & Ink. Pondicherry.

89. Urmila Pandya. Pen & Ink. 1959. Pondicherry. 

90. Urmila Ravjibhai. Pen & Ink. 1946. Pondicherry. 

91. Study of a cat. Pen & Ink. 13 x 11 cm. Pondicherry.

92a-c. Study of three cats. Pen & Ink. 12.7 x 11 cm. Pondicherry.

92d. Study of a cat. Pen & Ink. 13 x 11 cm. Pondicherry.

92e. Study of a cat. Pen & Ink. 5.5 x 5.5 cm. Pondicherry.

93. Study of a cat. Brush & Ink. 10.3 x 15 cm. Pondicherry.

94. Study of a dog. Pencil. Pondicherry.

95. Lion. Brush & Ink. Pondicherry.

96. Sketch for "An Apparition" (see 24). Pen & Ink. 19.5 x 12.5 cm. 1920-30. Pondicherry.

97. A Figure on the Crest of a Wave. Pencil. 14 x 22.5 cm. This drawing, along with Nos. 98 & 99, has an occult origin.

98. A Fort on the Sea. Pencil. 16 x 25 cm.

99. A Figure on a Mushroomlike Formation. Pencil. 18 x 21 cm.

100. Two figures and a lion. Pencil. 12 x 6.5 cm.

101. Two Faces in a Pattern. Pencil. France.

102. Details of No. 101.

103. Details of No. 101.

104. A Figure with Two Symbols. Pencil. 22.5 x 14 cm. France.  

105. Two Symbols. Pencil. The Mother has given explanations of these sketches in French (trans: "A crown with wings on a square of light. The wings, the crown and the arrow in white light above the square of white light surrounded by prismatic colours" and "The star of white light radiating very luminous rays of all colours, the oval less brilliant, also radiating rays and changing colours so as to have them all alternately").

106. Ascent to the Truth. Brush & Ink. 24 x 15 cm. 1956. Pondicherry. Drawn to illustrate the play of the same name.

107. Ascent to the Truth. Brush & Ink. Original version.

108. Image of Buddha. 1957. Pondicherry.

109. A Village Woman. Pen & Ink. 18 x 14 cm. 1947. Pondicherry.

110. Sketch for a Character in the Play  "Ascent to the Truth". Pencil. 29 x 21 cm. 1956. Pondicherry.

111. Sketch of a Group. Pencil. 7.5 x 11 cm. France.

112. Sketch for the Painting  "A Vision" (see 23). Pencil. 6.5 x 8 cm. C. 1903-8. France.

113. Study of a Woman’s Figure. Pencil. 22 x 14 cm. France.  

114. Human Proportions. Pencil. 1933. Pondicherry. Marked to show a student the seven "head" measures comprising the human body.

115. Study of a Human Face (mouth and chin). Pencil. 18 x 11 cm. Pondicherry.

116. Study of a Tree. Brush & Ink on Japanese paper. 25 x 17.5 cm. Japan.  

117. Study of a Flower. Brush & Ink. 18 x 12 cm.

118. Temple of Shiva. Brush & Ink. 22 x 9 cm. Pondicherry.

119. Mountain and Clouds. Brush & Ink. 12 x 14 cm. Japan.

120. Man with a Newspaper. Pencil. 17.7 x 11 cm. France.

121. An Officer. Pencil. 17.5 x 11 cm. France.

122. A Woman in a Chair. Pencil. 16 x 11 cm. France.

123. A Man in a Chair. Pencil. 15 x 11 cm. France.

124. Sketch of a Woman. Pencil. 17.5 x 11 cm. France (?). (Perhaps, along with No. 125, to show the design of the dress.)

125. A Woman’s Torso. Pencil. 16 x 10 cm. France.

126. Horse and its Trainer. Pencil. 5.2 x 14 cm. France. 127. Landscape with Two Figures. Pencil. 14×22.5cm. 128. Landscape. Pencil. 17.3 x 22 cm.

129. Bridge. Pencil. 14 x 22.5 cm. 1907. France.

130. Pine Trees with Snow. Pencil. 14×22.5cm. 1907. France.  

131. Sketch of Daiunji Temple. Pencil. 34 x 25 cm. 1918. Japan.

132. Sketch of Daiunji Temple. Pencil. 34 x 25 cm. 1918. Japan.

133. Two Japanese Figures. Pencil. 11 x 6.6 cm. 1916­20. Japan.

134. Cover Design for a Children’s Magazine. Red Ink. C. 1946. Pondicherry.

135. Design for a Book-cover. Pencil. 22.5 x 14.5 cm. 1966. Pondicherry. This was used for the cover of a compilation of the writings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother, "On Love", prepared by Pavitra.

136. Stage Setting for a Play. Pencil. 14 x 22 cm. C. 1945. Pondicherry.

137-42. Free Designs. Pondicherry.

143. A diagram to explain to a child the meaning of Yoga. Pondicherry. Man is at the bottom, the Divine at the top. The wavy line is the path of the ordinary life, the straight line of Yoga.  

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