Untitled (Totem Masks)

"The outstanding painter of his generation is unmistakably Husain. Once a signboard painter, he is completely self-taught and as such he is not cramped by academic formalism and obtuse theories of painting. In his work the elements of traditional expressionism are the most eloquent. Husain is a great draughtsman, a subtle colourist, a conscientious experimenter and a purist in technique [...] The use he has made of the human figure and of images of rural life, and his periodic essays into differentiating form have been stimulating examples of original endeavour." (R. Bartholomew, 'Contemporary Indian Painting', Modern Art of Asia, Tokyo, 1961, unpaginated)