Lot#20 || Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011)
Untitled (Taj Mahal)
(1944)
Pencil and pen on paper
Signed and dated bottom center
9.00 x 57.00 in
Estimate ₹ 20,00,000 - ₹ 30,00,000
PROVENANCE
Sotheby's London 24 May 2007
Sotheby's London 24 May 2007
CATALOGUE NOTES
Maqbool Fida Husain was born in 1913 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. In 1948, he was invited by F N Souza to join the Progressive Artists' Group in Mumbai. Husain began his career by painting billboards for feature films and making furniture designs and toys to earn a living. When he took up painting as an art form, he blended folk, tribal and mythological art to create vibrantly contemporary, living art forms.
Maqbool Fida Husain was born in 1913 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. In 1948, he was invited by F N Souza to join the Progressive Artists' Group in Mumbai. Husain began his career by painting billboards for feature films and making furniture designs and toys to earn a living. When he took up painting as an art form, he blended folk, tribal and mythological art to create vibrantly contemporary, living art forms.
The work shows the Taj Mahal in the center and a figure of Shah Jahan surrounded by his servants on the left hand side in the Red Fort in Agra. On the right hand side, Aurangzeb can be seen to be sitting on the throne. Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son, Aurangzeb, but was still allowed a view of the Taj Mahal. Husain was fascinated by Urdu calligraphy when he was training to become a prayer leader of the islamic faith; a few urdu phrases can be seen at the bottom of artwork.
