Maqbool Fida Husain

Gifted by the artist to Ravi Kumar of Kumar Gallery New Delhi in 1959. From 1969 onwards the painting was kept with Mr Kumar's relatives in the UK

This work has been recently cleaned, consolidated and lightly varnished. It is in good condition, as viewed.
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During the early 1950s, Husain's subjects were sourced from "the ordinary life around him." (Richard Bartholomew and Shiv S. Kapur, Husain, New York, 1972, p. 36). Often ridden with activity and movement, these works are characterised by strong and dynamic lines. Jain miniature paintings as well as Chinese calligraphy impacted Husain's style and is apparent in the execution of this work. The 'Basholi school' of painting, prominent in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries also influenced Husain into utilising strong and clear patches of colour in his works. The donkeys, naga (serpent), cows and grassland all convey a picture of rural Indian life, a traditional theme of Husain's at the time. The combination of these pastoral symbols create a uniquely striking composition.