She Soldier

Title: She Soldier
Medium: Acrylic and charcoal on wood panel
Size: 11 x 14 inches
 
Collectible Giclee Available: 6" x 8" 
 
She Soldier Wrapped in a worn red cloak and hidden behind a haunting gas mask, She Soldier stands like a one-armed guard from a broken future. Her body feels both strong and vulnerable—feminine but hardened by survival. Painted on textured wood, she rises from a deep green background, part legend, part warning. 
 
This piece marks a darker, more apocalyptic turn in Bakshi’s portrait series. She’s not just a person, but a symbol—of strength, destruction, and endurance. The oversized gas mask hides her face, making us think about the loss of identity in times of war. 
 
You might see hints of artists like Francis Bacon in the distorted form, or Leon Golub in the raw emotion. The red cloth adds a dramatic, almost classical touch—like something out of a Goya painting. But even with these references, the painting is deeply personal. Bakshi’s rough brushstrokes and burned-out colors make it feel like this is someone he’s known—whether from real life or from the battlefield of his imagination.
 
She Soldier is a protector, a witness, a relic. She doesn't speak, but she doesn't need to.