Lot 217: "Untitled" - FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002), Ink on...
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"Untitled" – FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002), Ink on Paper.
This work captures a deeply personal and expressionistic portrayal of Christ. Rendered in Souza’s line work, the central figure of Christ appears etched with vein-like tree branches across his torso, merging the organic with the spiritual. Behind him rises a stark, angular cathedral—geometric and towering—contrasting with a gnarled, bare tree that adds to the somber emotional tone. The stark black ink against aged paper evokes themes of suffering, redemption, and introspection. Signed Souza in the lower right.
Francis Newton Souza (1924–2002) was a pioneering Indian modernist and the founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG), established in 1947 in Bombay. Born in Goa and raised in a strict Catholic environment, Souza’s work was deeply influenced by themes of religion, eroticism, conflict, and existential angst. He studied at the Sir J.J. School of Art but was expelled for his rebellious attitude—an act that foreshadowed the nonconformist path he would take throughout his life and career. His early move to London in the late 1940s placed him at the heart of the post-war European art scene, where he achieved critical success and became the first Indian artist to gain international recognition in the West.
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 54.5 x 35.5cm
Provenance: Private collection from a distinguished USA collector.
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