Green Chessmen

Name/Title

Green Chessmen

Entry/Object ID

2016.025

Collection

Hundal Collection

Made/Created

Artist

Anwar Jalal Shemza

Date made

1970

Time Period

20th Century

Dimensions

Height

33-1/2 in

Width

23-1/2 in

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

In the 1960s Shemza began experimenting with Roman letters B and D and calligraphic forms. This example from the Hundal collection exemplifies the manner in which he formed such compositions. Pawns composed of Bs and Ds, stand as proud figures—kings, queens, and horsemen—from the game of chess. The predominant green suggests homage to Islam.