With the use of the dramatic, jagged strokes that are characteristic of Husain, this untitled work resonates with symbolic significance. The piece depicts some of the reoccurring motifs of M.F. Husain`s oeuvre - the woman, the lamp and the hand in `abhay mudra`.
The image of the lamp often makes an appearance in Husain`s art as a symbol of enlightenment and progress. Here, the `real` woman carries the lamp,...
With the use of the dramatic, jagged strokes that are characteristic of Husain, this untitled work resonates with symbolic significance. The piece depicts some of the reoccurring motifs of M.F. Husain`s oeuvre - the woman, the lamp and the hand in `abhay mudra`.
The image of the lamp often makes an appearance in Husain`s art as a symbol of enlightenment and progress. Here, the `real` woman carries the lamp, suggesting hope for the future, and she extends her hand in the gesture of eternal peace. However, the white statue in the foreground serves as a disturbing contrast to this positive imagery. Its body is constricted in a movement of pain. The curious juxtaposition denotes "humans trapped between superstition and new advances." (p. 104, Y. Dalmia, "A Metaphor for Modernity", The Making of Modern Indian Art, OUP, 2001)