Important Notice

Considered to be one of India's greatest Modernists, F N Souza rose to international fame in the mid-1950s while living and working in post-war London. It was during this period that the subjects of his paintings grew to extend beyond landscapes and portraits as he embraced the sacred and the profane through images that were erotically charged, sometimes bordering on the edge of violence.

His unrestrained style of painting created... Considered to be one of India's greatest Modernists, F N Souza rose to international fame in the mid-1950s while living and working in post-war London. It was during this period that the subjects of his paintings grew to extend beyond landscapes and portraits as he embraced the sacred and the profane through images that were erotically charged, sometimes bordering on the edge of violence.

His unrestrained style of painting created thought-provoking and powerful images that fused stylistic elements from classical Indian art, African tribal art and Western modernism. An examination of his artistic oeuvre highlights how he was influenced by various schools of art, ranging from Goan folk traditions and the temple structures of Mathura and Khajuraho, to the iconic paintings of the Renaissance, landscapes from 18th and 19th century Europe, and paintings by the modern masters. These influences resulted in Souza's style of using line with economy without letting go of the finer details in the form as well as a profusion of crosshatched strokes to make up the overall structure of his subject.

Despite being known for his scathing portrayals of individuals and society on canvas, Souza's landscapes from this period highlight his immense proficiency over the elements of form and space. "The graphic power of Souza's lines produce simplified and bold images, while the thick oil paints applied liberally to the board or canvas, with swift strokes, give his work a sense of vitality and movement... Cityscapes, constructed from fragmented images and memories, are also important subjects and perhaps suggestive of Souza's cosmopolitan life and frequent travelling." ("F N Souza: Icons of a Modern World," All Too Human: Bacon, Freud and a Century of Painting Life, London: Tate, 2018, p. 20, accessed on tate.org.uk, online)

These works simultaneously capture the post-war gloom prevalent in Britain at the time and underlying tension between nations in the aftermath of the war. The present lot, with its dark and sombre tones in black and blue, bring out a stillness that is reminiscent of a dark atmosphere. Yet, the structures -- discernible in the form of houses and trees -- are clearly visible, despite being created with urgent and frenzied brushstrokes, thereby lending a sense of cohesion to the otherwise sombre cityscape.

RAGNAR ZEDELL

The present lot was originally acquired from the artist by Ragnar Zedell, one of Souza's friends and earliest patrons in Stockholm during his visit in the early 1960s. While reminiscing during an interview in 2005, Zedell spoke of an incident when Souza had hired a gallery near Old Town in the city to exhibit some of his paintings. After an influential critic gave it a poor review, Souza defiantly took down the show and approached Zedell with an offer to purchase the entire collection for half the price. "I paid him 20,000 Kronas, all the money I had because I liked him," remembered Zedell. ("Interview with Conor Macklin," Francis Newton Souza, London: Grosvenor Gallery, 2005, online)

Zedell, who owned a shop that sold shipping and maritime objects, nurtured a strong friendship with the artist during his stay in the city and displayed his works in his store, directing interested clients to Souza's studio. If they ended up purchasing a work, Souza would stop by Zedell's shop and pay him a commission.

Zedell made it a point to meet up with the critic ten years after that fateful exhibition review to inform him of the global success Souza had gone on to achieve. "The critic fell off his chair in shock!" laughed Zedell. (Quoted in "Interview with Conor Macklin," online)

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