Page 246 - AstaGuru Masters Legacy April 2024

Lot No. 68

M F HUSAIN
1915-2011

UNTITLED (HORSES)
20 x 15 in (50.8 x 38.1 cm)
Mixed media on board
Circa 1970
Signed: Bottom Right

` 10,00,000 - 15,00,000 | $12,195 - 18,293

Provenance: Property from an international
collection. Artwork was acquired by the present
owner directly from the artist.

Even as a young boy M F Husain was enamored by
horses, first realising his fascination for them while
witnessing the tazias taken out during Muharram
processions. He was often seen drawing several
horse forms in chalk or coal on his school’s walls
and notebooks. Later on in life, the artist travelled
to China where he was able to study Song dynasty
horse pottery and meet artist Qi Baishi. Baishi’s
work too depicted horses with minimal lines yet
immense movement and served as inspiration.
Other influences include European artists Franz
Marc and Marino Marini and icons of ancient Greek
civilization like the Trojan horse and Bucephalus.
He intended the powerful depiction of the horse to
signify grace and freedom. The artist stated “My
horses like lightning, cut across many horizons.
Seldom their hooves are shown. They hop around the
spaces. From the battlefield of “Karbala” to Baukura
terracota, from the Chinese Tse pei Hung horse to
St. Marco horse, from ornate armoured “Duldul” to
challenging white of “Ashwamedh”... the cavalcade
of my horses is multidimensional”.