Mahasundari Devi (1922-2013), two large drawings in the Kashni style, Northeast India, Bihar, Madhubani, Ranti village, second half of the 20th century Two-color drawings in black and red ink on paper. The first one representing two large women, one with a bow, on either side of a house inhabited by two peacocks on the roof and a child figure holding a stick in one hand. Captioned in ink on the back with the artist's name and place of creation: "Smt. Mahasundari Devi Village & Post-Ranti Dist. - Madhubani Bihar India"; the second one representing two women standing on either side of a tree, the one on the right playing the flute, some animal figures animating the whole. Signed at the bottom of the composition in English and in Devanagari "Mahasundri Devi". 149,6 x 205,4 and 150 x 153 cm Tears at the edges, stains, wetness, folds, accidents. A large Bahni style Mithila painting in brightly colored gouache depicting a round of superimposed women forming a rosette with a musician at its heart, the whole surrounded by four large female figures, floral stems and bird figures. 148,5 x 149,5 cm Mahasundari Devi (1922-2013) was a renowned Indian artist who devoted her life to art. Subjected in her youth to the practice of purdah imposing a strict separation between men and women, she left this system at the age of 39 to follow her vocation as an artist. She founded the Mithila Hastashilp Kalakar Audyogki Sahyog Samiti, an art society promoting the development of arts and crafts. Her role was very inspiring in the Madhubani artist community. Her actions and painting earned her the Padma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award, in 2011. Mahasundari Devi (1922-2013), 2 Large Mithila Drawings, North-East India, Madhubani, Ranti, 2nd half of 20th century