George Keyt (1901-1993)

Keyt is known for his sensuous depiction of women within rustic settings. He drew inspiration from the work of Matisse but his carefully constructed forms are unique to him. The Chilean poet Pablo Neruda states, 'Keyt I think is the living nucleus of a great painter. In all his work there is the moderation of maturity...Keyt's pictures nevertheless produce a dramatic effect, particularly in his paintings of Sinhalese people. These figures take on a strange expressive grandeur, and radiate an aura of intensely profound feeling.' (W.G. Archer, India and Modern Art, London, 1959, p. 124).