Seven artists, over seven decades, interpreting India since Partition | Eye News,The Indian Express

Here’s a look at some iconic works of Indian art, over the 75 years since Independence, that reflect on our sociopolitical realities

Satish Gujral, Partition series, ’40s-50s

The catastrophe of the Partition is well-documented and Satish Gujral was a witness to the bloodshed and violence that accompanied it. Born in Jhelum in 1925, as a young child he accompanied his father in helping refugees relocate to India, and the trauma he experienced was to influence his art forever. “Partition is close to my heart and what I witnessed remained with me and was reflected in my work. Art was a medium to express that turmoil,” stated Gujral in an interview to The Indian Express in 2010. The painful memories led to several acclaimed works in the ’40s and ’50s, including Days of Glory (1952-86) with its huddled and helpless protagonists seated in isolation, and The Despair (1954), a dark depiction that portrayed loss through its wailing subjects.

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MF Husain, Zameen, 1955

Considered one of his seminal works, in Zameen MF Husain encapsulated his love for the land. The panoramic painting that won him the National Award of the Lalit Kala Akademi award in 1955 explores the relationship between the people and the earth. Divided into various segments, the figures come together to tell the story of India, the daily life and the festivities. The motifs range from a rooster to a packhorse, bull and the wheel, several of which became recurring themes for the artist.

https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/seven-artists-over-seven-decades-interpreting-india-since-partition-8088915/

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