Question

Which of the following statement is true in reference to this artwork?

• A. These children represent the most vulnerable section of the society.
• B. It is based on childhood memories of the artist.
• C. The figures are linear, each with a healthy body and strong musculature.
• D. The children are making a strategy for the game they are playing.

Hint:

When analyzing expressionist or socially-conscious art, look for the emotional and social message. The artist's primary goal is often to evoke empathy and highlight injustice, not to depict idealized scenes. The physical distortion of figures is a key tool to convey suffering.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The artwork, titled 'Children', is a powerful depiction of human suffering. The artist is known for his works that reflect on social and political crises, particularly the pain of the common person.

Step 3: Detailed Explanation:
Let's analyze the given options:
(A) The emaciated, skeletal figures of the children clearly depict them as victims of a great tragedy, representing the poorest and most vulnerable members of society who suffer the most during famines. This statement is true.
(B) While the artist witnessed these scenes, the work is not based on pleasant 'childhood memories' but on traumatic memories of witnessing the Bengal Famine.
(C) This statement is factually incorrect. The figures are linear, but they are shown as weak, starving, and emaciated, not healthy or muscular.
(D) This is a misinterpretation of the image. The children are huddled together in misery and suffering, not playing a game.

Step 4: Final Answer:
The most accurate statement is that the children represent the most vulnerable section of society.