This artwork portrays a well at dusk, a quiet rural landscape that carries one of the most painful memories of the Partition of India in 1947. For many families across Punjab, wells became places of final refuge when violence swept through villages during the riots. Women jumped into these wells to escape the threat of abduction, assault or forced conversion, choosing death over the horrors that awaited them. The artwork captures this tragedy through silence rather than spectacle, allowing the fading light to speak to the dignity and despair of those who faced unimaginable choices.
Historically, British withdrawal from India unleashed a wave of communal violence in Punjab, intensified by decades of colonial policies that had hardened religious identities, militarised certain communities and deepened distrust. When order collapsed, entire villages were left without protection. Women faced particular danger, as gendered violence became a brutal weapon in the chaos. Contemporary records, survivor testimony and official inquiries describe numerous incidents in which families, fearing what was coming, gathered at village wells. Some women jumped to their deaths voluntarily. In other cases, relatives believed they were sparing their daughters from a worse fate. These tragedies occurred across Sikh, Muslim and Hindu households alike, reflecting a shared suffering that cut across the very identities being manipulated for political ends.
The well thus became a symbol of both despair and love, a place where families confronted the catastrophic consequences of Partition. It witnessed the collapse of trust, the breakdown of communities that had lived together for centuries and the unbearable weight placed on women in moments of collective panic. The darkness gathering around the well in this artwork evokes more than a time of day. It reflects the shadows cast by colonial divide and rule, which left a fractured society to face the cost of borders drawn in haste. The scene invites the viewer to consider the intimate human toll of decisions made far from the villages that paid the price.
Displayed in a modern interior, this piece becomes a quiet memorial to the women whose lives were lost in those final days. It encourages reflection on how political fragmentation and communal division can lead to irreversible human tragedy, and how memory carries the stories that history often struggles to voice. The Well at Dusk stands as a reminder of the courage, suffering and heartbreaking choices made by ordinary people at the edge of empire’s collapse.
Every artwork in this collection is available in four thoughtfully selected display formats, designed to complement a wide range of interiors while maintaining a consistent standard of quality and finish.
Our framed canvas prints offer a subtle, tactile texture that adds depth and presence to each piece, professionally stretched over FSC certified wooden bars for a clean, gallery-ready presentation. For a lighter and more flexible option, our museum-quality paper posters can be paired with magnetic wooden hangers crafted from smooth pine, allowing the artwork to be displayed or changed with ease while remaining securely held.
For a more traditional presentation, our premium wooden frames are made from responsibly sourced oak or ash, chosen for their natural grain and durability, and finished with shatterproof plexiglass for long-term protection. Those seeking a contemporary look can opt for our aluminium frames, combining slim black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a crisp, understated finish.
All prints are produced using high-quality, archival-grade inks on FSC certified papers. Each piece is made individually to order, helping minimise unnecessary waste while ensuring careful attention to quality and consistency. Your artwork arrives ready to hang or assemble, crafted to be enjoyed for years to come.
