Important Notice

The human figure has been the central motif of Husain's art, and "the vehicle for his exploration of the nature and drama of reality." (Richard Bartholomew and Shiv S Kapur, Husain, New York: Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1972, p. 36) In his quest to depict the diverse realities of India, Husain often portrayed women in a rural setting, at times engaged in laborious daily activities, such as in the present lot. "It is a point worth noting that... The human figure has been the central motif of Husain's art, and "the vehicle for his exploration of the nature and drama of reality." (Richard Bartholomew and Shiv S Kapur, Husain, New York: Harry N Abrams, Inc., 1972, p. 36) In his quest to depict the diverse realities of India, Husain often portrayed women in a rural setting, at times engaged in laborious daily activities, such as in the present lot. "It is a point worth noting that Husain's women, far from arousing passion, are ascetic... It is almost as if he strips the sculptures of all exterior embellishments to arrive at their basic sense of movement. Husain's women are always enshrouded in an invisible veil, the simplicity of their form countered by their inaccessibility." (Yashodhara Dalmia, "A Metaphor for Modernity," The Making of Modern Indian Art: The Progressives, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2001, pp. 110-111)

Husain's masterful handling of composition and colour was informed by his studies of miniature painting, classical sculpture, and his own travels and observations of rural and urban life. Husain experimented with form, mood and style in each work, and no two are ever quite the same. "Above all else, it was the line that was Husain's strongest element and he used it with a bounding energy in his work. The deft strokes that came from an early acquaintance with calligraphy now encased the figure in simple, economic points of intersection." (Dalmia, p. 109) The present lot, with its subdued tonality and sculptural solidity is a fine example of Husain's ability to blend themes, techniques and traditions to create art that was still original and uniquely expressive of his own vision.

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