Maqbool Fida Husain

Acquired directly from the artist in London in 1968

This painting is in good condition, as viewed.
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This painting from the 1960s aptly displays Husain's ability to meld the classical, the rural and the contemporary. In this work the artist uses classical Indian iconography with a warm palette inspired by traditional court paintings and the rural countryside. The goddess is depicted prostrate within the confines of the fortress, flanked by gargoyles of Hanuman and naga-like forms. An elephant stands at the base of the fortress, symbolic of fertility and strength.

Throughout his career Husain drew on traditional Indian sources, studying the ancient temple structures of India and Nepal. As indicated in the title, this painting takes its inspiration from the architecture and sculptural forms of Nepal. As well as interpreting the designs and forms of these edifices, Husain also looked to the great epics of India. By the late 1960s Husain had begun painting the Ramayana followed by the Mahabharata series. This interest in ancient Hindu texts was initiated by the pre-eminent socialist, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia, who challenged Husain on why he did not paint for the villagers. Husain's portrayal of the epics allowed him to not only explore the mythology within Indian art and culture but also enabled him to comment on contemporary society and the human condition. His paintings illustrated ancient conflicts, impulses and desires that were just as relevant in the present as they were in the past. (Y. Dalmia, The Making of Modern Indian Art, New Delhi, 2001, p. 113)