Lot 151: "Untitled" - FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002).
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"Untitled" – FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002).
A pen-on-paper portrait, signed and dated 1955 in the upper right. The drawing depicts a stylized male figure rendered with dense hatching and bold linear abstraction, marked by exaggerated facial features and a rough, angular geometry.
Souza’s accomplishments are as radical as his work. In 1955, he signed with Victor Musgrave’s Gallery One in London, and in 1959, his autobiography Nirvana of a Maggot was published to acclaim. His art was exhibited at the Tate Gallery (1955) and later became part of the collections at institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Gallery of Modern Art in Delhi. He received the Padma Bhushan posthumously in 2015. Known for his bold lines, distorted figures, and raw emotional content, Souza’s art was confrontational and unapologetically personal. He challenged religious dogma, societal hypocrisy, and colonial legacies, leaving behind a powerful and provocative legacy in Indian and global modern art.
Approximately 26 x 22cm
Provenance: Private collection from a distinguished British gentleman.
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