M. F.

Husain
Maqbool Fida Husain was born in 1913 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. A self-taught artist, he
came to Mumbai in 1937, determined to become a painter. In 1948, he was invited by F N
Souza to join the Progressive Artists ' Group.

Horses

Husain began his career by painting billboards for feature films and making furniture designs
and toys, to earn a living. When took up painting as an art form, however, he returned time
and again to his roots, and to themes that blended folk, tribal and mythological art to create
vibrantly contemporary, living art forms. His rise as a public figure had as much to do with
his style and presentation, as it did with his themes. He depicted the icons of Indian culture,
through the ages, seeking to capture the quintessence of his subjects, like Mother Teresa
and the characters of epics like the Mahabharata.
Mother Teresa series
Mother Teresa series

Husain’s name has become almost synonymous with modern Indian art, for no single artist
has popularised Indian art, within the country or internationally, as Husain has done. His
endless quest for his cultural roots and a fearlessly open-minded willingness to absorb
diverse influences has made M F Husain one of the most recognisable figures of modern
Indian art.

His narrative paintings, executed in a modified Cubist style, can be caustic and funny as well
as serious and sombre. His themes—sometimes treated in series—include topics as diverse
as Mohandas K. Gandhi, Mother Teresa, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the British raj,
and motifs of Indian urban and rural life. Early in his painting career, and until his death, he
enjoyed depicting the lively and free spirit of horses in many of his works. Often referred to
as the "Picasso of India", M.F. Husain is the most celebrated and internationally recognized
Indian artist of the 20th century. Husain is primarily known for his paintings, but is also
known for his drawings and his work as a printmaker, photographer, and filmmaker. Some of
his later works stirred controversy, as they depicted traditional Deities of India in non
traditional ways.

Husain lived in self-imposed exile from 2006 until his death. In 2010, he was conferred Qatari
nationality, and he surrendered his Indian passport. For the last years of his life Husain lived
in Doha and London, staying away from India, but expressing a strong desire to return,
despite fears of being killed.

At the age of 92 Husain was to be given the prestigious Raja Ravi Varma award by the
government of Kerala.

M. F. Husain died on 9th June 2011(Aged 97).