Lot 166: "Untitled" – FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002).
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"Untitled" – FRANCIS NEWTON SOUZA (1924-2002).
A bold pen and ink on paper by Francis Newton Souza, depicting a stylised male portrait executed with sharp linear strokes and exaggerated features. The angular face, haunting eyes, and rigid suit lines exemplify Souza’s exploration of distortion and raw expression. The drawing bears the artist’s signature Souza on the lower left. Mounted and framed.
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 47 x 37cm (incl. frame)
Provenance: Private collection from a distinguished W London lady
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