Page 22 - M F Husain The Eternal Master
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on its journey of independence, Husain embarked on a           beginning, and the world was about to witness the birth of a                               fascinating evolution in his style, marked by a profound shift
                  parallel odyssey of artistic self-discovery. It was a time when   creative genius whose brilliance would illuminate the world                             in subject matter, technique, and global artistic inspiration.
                  the boundaries of tradition were being pushed, and Husain      of art, and who would emerge as a titan of modern art.                                           As the dust of partition settled, Husain was searching
                  was at the forefront of this revolution.                                                                                                                  for a way to express his national identity without resorting
                       Husain’s early years in Bombay were a testament to his    THE 1950s & BEYOND                                                                         to aggressive proclamations. He discovered his answers

                  unwavering determination, his relentless pursuit of artistic                                                                                              in the simplicity of rural and tribal life. These humble,
                  excellence,  and  the  audacious  belief  that  the  pavement-  The 1950s marked a pivotal decade in Husain’s career, during                              unassuming people would become the dominant themes of
                  dwelling  youth  from  Pandharpur  was  destined  to  become   which  he explored  a  multitude  of influences,  both from                                his artistic creations during the 1950s. The artist’s connection
                  one of India’s most iconic painters. His journey was  just     within India and beyond its borders. This period witnessed a                               to these people ran deep, and his work reflected a profound
                                                                                                                                                                            admiration for their resilience and culture. During the 1950s,

                                                                                                                                                                            Husain’s horizons expanded even further as he had the           Husain with actor Dilip Kumar
                                                                                                                                                                            opportunity  to travel  extensively  outside India.  In 1952,  he
                  Mrs. and Mr. Husain
                                                                                                                                                                            journeyed to China, where he met the Chinese artist Chi Pei
                                                                                                                                                                            She, a man with 90 years of artistic wisdom. This encounter
                                                                                                                                                                            provided Husain with a unique glimpse into Chinese artistry.

                                                                                                                                                                                  In 1953, he ventured to Europe, coming face to face
                                                                                                                                                                            with European art, which had previously been limited to the
                                                                                                                                                                            pages of books. His travels took him to France, Switzerland,
                                                                                                                                                                            and  Italy,  where  he  had  the  privilege  of  viewing  original
                                                                                                                                                                            works by masters such as Emil Nolde, Paul Klee and early
                                                                                                                                                                            Renaissance  painters  like  Cimabue,  Giotto,  Masaccio,

                                                                                                                                                                            and Uccello. Of all the artists he encountered, Husain was
                                                                                                                                                                            particularly captivated by the work of Paul Klee.
                                                                                                                                                                                  Husain’s exposure to the works of Cezanne and Matisse     Husain with actor Shah Rukh Khan
                                                                                                                                                                            was also crucial. Cezanne’s emphasis on composition

                                                                                                                                                                            and structure provided Husain with a fresh perspective,
                                                                                                                                                                            while Matisse, who drew inspiration from Japanese prints,
                                                                                                                                                                            deepened his appreciation for bold hues and the use of flat
                                                                                                                                                                            colour areas to enhance expressiveness.
                                                                                                                                                                                  The encounter with Picasso, the reigning master of
                                                                                                                                                                            modern art, was equally significant. Although Husain was

                                                                                                                                                                            not drawn to Picasso’s vision, he recognized the new language
                                                                                                                                                                            of modern art that Picasso had created. The distortion of
                                                                                                                                                                            form in his work opened Husain’s eyes to immense creative
                                                                                                                                                                            possibilities. However, it is essential to note that while      Husain with actress Madhuri Dixit



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