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Who Was Hari Ambadas Gade? Progressive Artists’ Group Painter and Indian Modernist Explained

A founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group and one of the first Indian modernists to incorporate abstract expressionism into their artworks post-independence, Hari Ambadas Gade is known for his abstract landscape compositions and vibrant colour palette. Working against the dominance of western academic realism under the British Raj, he developed a vivid, structurally driven visual language that remains singular within modern Indian art.

Who Was Hari Ambadas Gade? Progressive Artists’ Group Painter and Indian Modernist Explained

Saraswati in Two Artistic Worlds: Sunayani Devi and Baburao Painter

When the Orientalist William Jones wrote his hymn to Saraswati in the late eighteenth century, he described the goddess as the “patroness of fine arts, especially of Musick and Rhetorick. (archaic)” Reflecting on the poetic tradition surrounding her, Jones remarked that it evokes the Ragmala—the “Necklace of Musical Modes,” which he called “the most beautiful union of Painting with poetical Mythology and the genuine theory of Musick.” [1] His observation captures something essential about Saraswati’s place in Indian culture: she belongs at once to music, language, and the visual arts.

Saraswati in Two Artistic Worlds: Sunayani Devi and Baburao Painter

Amal Home: Bengal’s Forgotten Cosmopolitan

There was a time when Amal Chandra Home Ray, known to peers as simply Amal Home, was a name familiar to Bengal’s cultural, literary, and political elite. Described by writer Nirad C. Chaudhuri as a “showman, an impresario,”[1] Amal was an elegant, erudite, complex figure whose legacy today lives on in scattered memories, faded photographs, and the quiet efforts of his daughter, Amalina Dutta, to restore him to public memory.

Amal Home: Bengal’s Forgotten Cosmopolitan

Lalitha Lajmi and the Nocturnal Art of Making

If one were to visit Lalitha Lajmi’s home in her later years, one would find a space that quietly mirrored the artist herself. The walls were defining spaces in Lajmi's living room that spoke volumes about her creative personality. On the round table, a half-painted watercolour waited patiently, flanked by brushes and metal cups, its silent companions in the long hours of her nocturnal practice.

Lalitha Lajmi and the Nocturnal Art of Making

Bhanu Athaiya's Feminist Vision

Bhanu Athaiya often described herself simply as “a painter who came to cinema.” She carried the discipline of her art training into every film she worked on, treating costume as an extension of character. Actresses who worked with her — from Waheeda Rehman to Zeenat Aman — remembered how she would sit with them, discuss each scene, and ensure that they felt completely at ease. Rekha called her “a mentor, creative guide, and friend,” [1] while Meena Kumari’s first words to her on the set of Sahib Bibi aur Ghulam were, “Bhanu, take care of me.” [2] That instinct — to listen, to understand, and to protect — would come to define her feminist practice.

Souza and Catholicism: A Lifelong Reflection in Art

Francis Newton Souza’s early years in Goa were immersed in Catholic tradition, shaped by his grandmother, Leopoldina Saldanha. After contracting smallpox in Bombay, he was sent back to Saligao in 1929, where his childhood was steeped in religious rituals. His grandmother, deeply devout, led the family in nightly Rosary prayers and Sunday Mass, filling his imagination with stories of saints, martyrdom, and biblical events.

Souza and Catholicism: A Lifelong Reflection in Art

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

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.

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.

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

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

Modernism to Crypto - Sneak Peak at our February 2025 Exhibition

This would be an important never-before-seen exhibition exploring six decades of Modernism in Indian art and avant-garde art on the blockchain.

Modernism to Crypto - Sneak Peak at our February 2025 Exhibition

Unraveling Francis Newton Souza in Saligao

This research originates from an insightful question-and-answer session with Keren SouzaKohn, the daughter of Francis Newton Souza. Set against the backdrop of the red earth roads, lush green paddy fields, and winding lanes of Saligao, Goa—Souza's birthplace—our conversation unveiled fascinating possibilities. What began as a simple dialogue soon transformed into a path-breaking interview, shedding new light on the art of F.N. Souza and the influences that shaped his work.

Unraveling Francis Newton Souza in Saligao

Keren SouzaKohn: Reflections on Art, Family, and the Legacy of F.N. Souza

In an exclusive interview, Keren SouzaKohn delves into her unique upbringing under the shadow of her father, the legendary artist F.N. Souza. Growing up in a household steeped in art and creativity, Keren shares her early experiences, the profound influence of her father, and the eclectic mix of creative influences that shaped her artistic perspective.

Keren SouzaKohn: Reflections on Art, Family, and the Legacy of F.N. Souza

Keren SouzaKohn on artist and father F.N. Souza

SouzaKohn, daughter of the legendary Indian artist Francis Newton Souza, is a distinguished artist in her own right. Her evocative paintings capture everyday objects and familiar environments, transforming them into dynamic compositions filled with passion and vigor. Born in London, Keren completed her foundation course at Hornsey College of Art and earned a BA (Hons) in Fine Art from Ravensbourne College of Art. Her extensive career includes numerous solo exhibitions, with a recent focus on her work with oils.

Keren SouzaKohn on artist and father F.N. Souza

The Bhanu Athaiya Estate

India’s first Oscar winner, Bhanu Athaiya was born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, in the year 1929. Bhanu came to Mumbai as a teenager to learn painting at the JJ School of Arts. She went on to become the only woman to be invited to and join the Progressive Artists’ Group and the first woman to win the prestigious Usha Deshmukh Gold Medal in 1951 for the artwork titled 'Lady In Repose'.

Gobardhan Ash Retrospective Exhibition (1929 - 1969)

Prinseps presents the Gobardhan Ash Retrospective (1929 - 1969) at the Kolkata Centre for Creativity—a captivating journey into the profound artistic legacy of Gobardhan Ash, a luminary of Indian modern art. From March 29th to April 21st, visitors are invited to explore this exhibition, which offers a comprehensive examination of Ash's pioneering contributions to the artistic landscape. Spanning four decades, it provides a glimpse into the creative genius that defined his remarkable career. Click here for a virtual tour of the exhibition.

Gobardhan Ash Retrospective Exhibition (1929 - 1969)