Page 24 - M F Husain The Eternal Master

Husain’s early figures might bear traces of Picasso’s influence
in terms of distortion, he did not adopt other elements of
Picasso’s artistic language.
Over a short span of five years, from 1948 to 1953,
Husain absorbed a vast array of artistic influences, ranging

from Gupta sculptures and Basohli miniatures to Chinese
calligraphy and Western art. These diverse sources melded
in the cauldron of Husain’s mind, finding expression in his
works during the 1950s, although pinpointing specific sources
in specific works can often be arbitrary. Within the realm of

Indian painters, Husain drew immense inspiration from the
works of Amrita Sher-Gil. His artistic evolution during this
period was also a multi-directional, multifaceted process.
In 1956, Husain created “Between the Spider and
the Lamp,” a masterpiece that deviated from his typical

playfulness. This painting exuded a certain solemnity,
depicting two young female figures with averted faces,
an enigmatic matriarchal figure holding a spider, and a

The artist at work, 1940s

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