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Souza: The Doting Father

As we unravel the lesser-known facets of Souza’s personal life, we move beyond the Enfant terrible label often attached to him. Offering an intimate glimpse of the man behind the masterpieces—we see a portrait of a doting father, hunched over his desk. He wields his quill gently; unlike the bold, urgent strokes of his brush. His ink spills onto his letters, lined with affection and longing, as he writes to his daughter Keren, “Lots of love and kisses. Write me.”

Liselotte & F.N. Souza: A Creative Convergence

Francis Newton Souza’s years in London marked a crucial turning point in his artistic journey, shaped not just by the city’s post-war modernist currents but also by his deep and transformative relationship with Liselotte Souza née Kristian (ancestry Kohn).

Liselotte & F.N. Souza: A Creative Convergence

Metamorphosis as a Motif: Kafka in Souza’s Art

Souza’s artistic evolution was not shaped by painters alone. While Picasso informed his visual language, it was Franz Kafka who gave form to his inner unrest. The influence of Kafka—never examined as part of Souza’s oeuvre—runs deep through his art and writings.

Metamorphosis as a Motif: Kafka in Souza’s Art

F.N. Souza & Picasso: Influence, Cubism, and Cross-Cultural Exchange

From his early years in Bombay to his rise in London, Souza saw Picasso as an artistic influence and a kindred spirit. The parallels were striking. Both were expelled from art institutions, briefly associated with the Communist Party, and deeply engaged with the written word.

F.N. Souza & Picasso: Influence, Cubism, and Cross-Cultural Exchange

Orissa Sun Temple - FN Souza's Mithuna

F.N. Souza’s fascination with the human body began early—his expulsion from school in 1939 for drawing explicit anatomical sketches hinted at an obsession that deepened over time. Even in the 1940s, his clinically labeled studies dissected the body with scientific precision, mapping muscles and bones in a relentless exploration of form.

Art and Dissent in the 1940s

The 1940s were a decade of political urgency and artistic transformation in India—especially in Bombay, where anti-colonial movements, Marxist cultural activism, and encounters with European émigrés sparked a radical new visual language. As the Quit India Movement mobilized students and artists alike, figures like P.C. Joshi and Mulk Raj Anand rallied for an art that was politically engaged and socially conscious. The Progressive Writers’ Association, the Calcutta Group, and the Indian People’s Theatre Association (IPTA) all shaped a cultural climate where art and resistance were deeply intertwined.

F.N. Souza

A Timeline of His Life, Art, and Legacy // This timeline traces the life and work of Francis Newton Souza (1924–2002), mapping the personal losses, political upheavals, and artistic milestones that shaped one of modern India’s most radical and uncompromising painters. Born in colonial Goa and raised between Bombay and Saligao, Souza’s early years were marked by rebellion—against convention, religious orthodoxy, and artistic mediocrity.

The Reflection of Sunil Madhav's Artistic Vision

Various organizations have been working for the advancement of art. From the pages of history, we learn that the first such organization in Calcutta was founded in 1830, named the Brush Club. At that time Prince Dwarakanath Tagore was at the forefront among several Indian and British entrepreneurs. Its lifespan was short. Over time, many organizations were established one after another, but with short lifespans. The Indian Society of Oriental Art founded in 1907, is the only one that remains active to this day. In recent time, one of the active institutions of this kind is Prinseps.

The Reflection of Sunil Madhav's Artistic Vision

Keren SouzaKohn: Art in Tokens

We’re excited to introduce one of the most innovative tokenization projects in the art world—featuring the works of Keren SouzaKohn, daughter of the iconic modernist artist F.N. Souza. In this groundbreaking initiative, around 900 of Keren’s artworks are being converted into tokens. Each owner of a token holds a one-to-one share of the physical artwork, while also receiving a digital image. This project is not only a revolution in art ownership but also a step towards democratizing the art world.

Louiz Banks: Art meets Jazz MP4 Project

We are proud to present a groundbreaking MP4 project that seamlessly merges the worlds of music and visual art.

Jamini Roy's Influence: A Critique by Shahid Suhrawardy on the First Exhibition of the Calcutta Group

On 17th March 1945, Shahid Suhrawardy, the art critic for the esteemed daily The Statesman, wrote a critique on the first exhibition of the Calcutta Group - a collective of eight young artists whose motto was that “Art should be international and inter-dependent”.

Jamini Roy's Influence: A Critique by Shahid Suhrawardy on the First Exhibition of the Calcutta Group

Kumari Nayika: Where Art Meets Empowerment

Prinseps, in collaboration with CITTA India and French artist Hélène Guétary, invites you to Kumari Nayika, an extraordinary exhibition that showcases the boundless power of imagination and education. This unique event, held on 14th and 15th December 2024 at Kathiwada City House, Mumbai, brings to life a visual narrative co-created by Hélène and sixteen young girls from the Rajkumari Ratnavati School in Jaisalmer. Through a captivating photographic fresco and striking portraits, the exhibition tells the story of Princess Rimjhim, a mythical figure born of the Sun and the River, embodying resilience, sustainability, and empowerment.

Kumari Nayika: Where Art Meets Empowerment

Rathin Maitra’s American Sojourn: Chronicles of Art and Culture

Today, I will share a few words about my experiences in America with you all. Naturally, it is not possible to talk about everything related to this vast country in such a brief period of time.

Rathin Maitra’s American Sojourn: Chronicles of Art and Culture

Artistic Legacy: Rathin Maitra's Reflection on Nandalal Bose

In the blossoming of modern Indian painting, among those nurtured under the tutelage of the revered master Abanindranath Tagore, Nandalal Bose emerged as the foremost figure and a trailblazer. He devoted his entire life to the serene practice of restraint, patience and unwavering dedication to the pursuit of art.

Artistic Legacy: Rathin Maitra's Reflection on Nandalal Bose

Writings On Art by Rathin Maitra

Art is regarded as a part of culture, but it is important to remember that there are other components as well, such as the education system, social control, political structure, economy, religious belief and so on. Due to the interrelationship of these elements, art cannot be judged in isolation. Art is molded by the social, economic and political milieu.

Kamaladevi’s Legacy & Bhanu Athaiya’s Craft: Weaving Culture into Cinema

Bhanu Rajopadhye Athaiya’s work as a costume designer was not merely an artistic pursuit; it was deeply rooted in India’s cultural revival, a process significantly influenced by the efforts of Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay. Kamaladevi, a pioneering force behind India’s handloom revival, brought traditional fabrics to the forefront of both fashion and cinema, shaping the way Indian textiles were appreciated in urban spaces.

Kamaladevi’s Legacy & Bhanu Athaiya’s Craft: Weaving Culture into Cinema

Rathin Maitra on Gobardhan Ash: Powerful Artist Inconspicuous from Public Eye

Today, my mind drifts back to the evocative days of the 1930s. My journey through Art School was still unfinished in those days, with lessons yet to unfold. During those days, a small circle of us artist-friends would often set out together, sketchpads in hands, to capture the world outdoors through sketching once classes were over.

Rathin Maitra on Gobardhan Ash: Powerful Artist Inconspicuous from Public Eye

Last Page of “Ardhashatavarshe Academy of Fine Arts” (Fifty years of AFA) by Kamal Sarkar

I have generally seen her (Lady Ranu Mookerjee) become active by relying on the Academy since 1950. Lady Ranu was then a member of the Sahitya Chakra 'Rabibasar’, At that time, she also held the position of the president of the Academy of Fine Arts.

Last Page of “Ardhashatavarshe Academy of Fine Arts” (Fifty years of AFA) by Kamal Sarkar

Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Shared Legacy of Bhanu Athaiya and J.J. School of Art

As we trace Bhanu Athaiya’s creative journey back to her roots in Kolhapur, we uncover a fascinating commonality between her, M.V. Dhurandhar, and John Lockwood Kipling. All three artists celebrated the essence of Indian life and craftsmanship, particularly through their depictions of fakirs and artisans.

Celebrating Craftsmanship: The Shared Legacy of Bhanu Athaiya and J.J. School of Art

Inside Keren SouzaKohn's home studio: Exploring her life and art

As we once again visited Keren SouzaKohn's lively home studio nestled amidst the lush green paddies and red roads of Saligao, our gaze fell on her colourful artworks reflecting life in Goa. Splashes of green, blue and intimate depictions of unhurried life in the coastal paradise uncovered vibrant portrayals of quiet village moments, the local folk and bustling markets. This immediately made us wonder about her artistic journey so far, and hence we embarked on yet another interview focusing on the life and art of Keren SouzaKohn.

Inside Keren SouzaKohn's home studio: Exploring her life and art