Osian's Auction Catalogue Indian Antiquities Modern Contemporary Fine Arts and Books | April 2017

One of the last paintings made by F.N. Souza as a member of the Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG) before leaving India for London in July 1949 41 F. N. Souza 1924-2002 Untitled Watercolour on paper, 1949 S/d in English ‘Souza 49’ l.c. 20.9 x 14.2 in (53.0 x 36.0 cm) Condition Minor tears on the edges without affecting the painted area Provenance Mumbai-based Collection; purchased from Osian’s 23rd June 2010 Auction’101 RARE Artworks from the History of Indian Modern & Contemporary Art’ (Lot 28); previously purchased by a Mumbai-based collector directly from the artist in 1993. INR 2,000,000 – 3,000,000 USD 29,850 – 44,780 F.N. Souza left India for London in July 1949 after the police raided his residence on complaints that he was painting ‘obscene’ works which had been removed from the Bombay Art Society exhibition. Lot 41 is a very rare painting from that important last 1949 period of the artist’s career when he helped establish the Progressive Artists’ Group along with M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, H.A. Gade, S.N. Bakre and K.H. Ara. Lot 41 represents one of the last paintings completed by the artist before he left his native country in 1949. ‘The most interesting thing is the quality of Souza’s brush work, which is very free and rhythmic. The lines representing the minimum details are partly narrative, stylized and incisive. A simplification of colours and form. There is a movement and weight in the lines of the figures with sensations and ideas. Especially in his nude painting and in paintings like ‘Portraits of Progressive Artists’ a broad black outline, simple dark shadows and brilliant areas of light making the work powerful and marvelously handled paint in which he was influenced by Georges Rouault.’ – Vinod Kumar rpt. in LKC 32 April 1985; p43. 86 | Osian’s–Connoisseurs of Art