22-23 / 160
15
M F HUSAIN
(1913 ‒ 2011)
Untitled
Signed 'Husain' and signed in Devnagari (on the reverse)
Acrylic on canvas
33.25 x 33.25 in (84.5 x 84.5 cm)
$ 65,000 ‒ 85,000
Rs 41,60,000 ‒ 54,40,000
PROVENANCE:
Formerly in the Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection
Sotheby's, New York, 3 April 1996, lot 69
Private Collection, USA
Husain’s early work had a marked tendency towards
symbolisation, seen here in the motif of the umbrella.
He often juxtaposed objects, creating a multi‒layered
narrative, in which everyday objects became vehicles
for stories.
“In order to address the common people he paints
umbrellas rather than painting people directly in the
manner of social realism... the lives of ordinary people
are evoked through the poetic portrayal of an object–
the umbrella–which is their metaphor. It, like them, is
common and close to hand yet equally unnoticed and
unportrayed. Husain brings these people to life through
that symbol: “the umbrella is the centrepiece, the
multitude, yet each person alone.” (Dr. Daniel Herwitz
ed.,
Husain
, Mumbai: Tata Steel Publications, 1988, p. 28)
PORTRAIT OF AN UMBRELLA
It lies folded, the umbrella.
Its crumpled black robe slumbers quietly.
Its few metal ribs may not correspond
To its ageless shadow –
Though a thin wooden stem tried to uphold
The burden,
Burden of burning streaks of light
Piercing drops of water.
Careless winds collide in mid‒air
Shooting down arrows.
The ribs tremble;
The black spreads like spilled ink on blotting paper.
Images of human voices emerge in black spaces,
The voice of squatted toes, twisted, shrunken
And withdrawn.
The umbrella lies in its folds.
Men, women come, sit around
The umbrella–then slowly turn away.
M F HUSAIN
22
23