Maqbool Fida Husain

(1915-2011)

Untitled (Luv and Kush)

Footnotes

Provenance
Property from a private collection, Dubai.
Acquired from the artist.

Husain's journey to Europe in 1953 proved to be a pivotal moment in his artistic development, profoundly shaping his work. While immersing himself in European Modernism, the artist skilfully blended these new influences with his Indian roots, creating a unique pictorial language.

Despite the strong impact of European modernist movements on his style, Husain remained constant in his commitment to his South Asian heritage. He was "first and foremost, Indian, rejecting the call and lure of other lands when his peers were settling in London, Paris, New York, and Copenhagen" (K. Singh, M.F. Husain: The Journey of a Legend, Stellar International Art Foundation, Geneva, 2014, p. 20-21). As Husain himself declared, "I'm an Indian-origin painter. I will remain so to my last breath" (M.F. Husain, quoted in Dawn, 9 June 2011). Throughout his career, he sought to project what Ashis Nandy termed 'Indian-style secularism,' "celebrating creation, humanity, and beauty in the diverse religious forms of the subcontinent." (Bruce B. Lawrence All distinctions are political, artificial: the fuzzy logic of MF Husain Common Knowledge 19 (2), pp.269-274, 2013).

A Muslim by faith, Husain embraced Hindu gods and epics in his art, often exploring these themes in what are considered some of his most celebrated works. In the present lot, Untitled (Luv and Kush), Husain portrays the popular tale from Hindu mythology about the twin sons of Lord Rama and Sita.

Born during their parents' exile in the forest, Luv and Kush were raised in isolation and trained in archery and combat by the sage Valmiki, becoming skilled warriors. One day, a horse from Lord Rama's army wandered into their forest. The twins captured it, refusing to release it, which led to a confrontation with Rama and his forces. This present work, Untitled (Luv and Kush), captures the pivotal moment of the twins mounted on the horse. As the battle escalated, Sita revealed her identity as their mother, Rama recognised his mistake and welcomed his sons back to Ayodhya. Through his depiction of iconic myths like that of Luv and Kush, Husain celebrates his various cultural heritage but also underscore a timeless tale of family, loyalty, and forgiveness.