‘Europe belongs to Picasso, Matisse, Braque, and many others. India belongs only to me.’ With these confident words, Amrita Sher-Gil (1913–1941) positioned herself in the international art world. She lived only 28 years, but left behind an impressive and influential body of work. Yet Sher-Gil remains surprisingly unknown outside India. She is considered the founder of modern Indian art, and her work is regarded as national heritage in India. Her art is therefore rarely seen outside the country.

This book tells the story of the Hungarian-Indian Amrita Sher-Gil: her art and her life. Born in Hungary and educated in France, Sher-Gil's artistic quest ultimately led her back to India. She managed to connect Western modern art with Indian traditions, inspiring generations of artists. On the occasion of the first major retrospective exhibition in the Netherlands, this book offers a wonderful overview of her work.