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Lot Essay
Maqbool Fida Husain was drawn to Kerala in the 1950s and 1960s for its wonderfully lush natural flora and fauna, the beauty and simplicity of its people, and its unique and ancient matriarchal society. This painting from the late 1950s can be regarded as a precursor to the artist's Kerala series, with its typical luscious foliage that almost camouflages the figures within.
Characteristic of Husain's works from this period are the figures that are almost part of the landscape, with the viewer having to seek them out. Here, this is the case with not only the seated figure at the center of the composition, but more significantly the hint of a figure monumentally and masterfully constructed within the tree on the left, reminiscent in pose of classical Indian sculpture. Husain has also cleverly used his earthy palette to create depth through the darker colors which recede into the background, with the brighter shades of yellow and mustard highlighting the foreground.
Characteristic of Husain's works from this period are the figures that are almost part of the landscape, with the viewer having to seek them out. Here, this is the case with not only the seated figure at the center of the composition, but more significantly the hint of a figure monumentally and masterfully constructed within the tree on the left, reminiscent in pose of classical Indian sculpture. Husain has also cleverly used his earthy palette to create depth through the darker colors which recede into the background, with the brighter shades of yellow and mustard highlighting the foreground.