How MF Husain Became India’s Best-Known Painter

Beginning in the 1990s, his paintings drew ire of Hindu fundamentalist groups for his treatment of religious figures

By: News Desk |
September 23, 2019 5:49 pm

Maqbool Fida Husain, better known as MF Husain is often referred to as “Indian picasso”. Born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, Husain picked up painting art while studying calligraphy. He started painting billboard posters for Bollywood movies in the 1930s in Bombay and went on to form Progressive Artists Group.

Known for creating narrative artworks on themes including Gandhi, Mahabharata and the British Raj, his highest-selling piece fetched $1.6 million. Beginning in the 1990s, his paintings drew ire of Hindu fundamentalist groups for his treatment of religious figures.

n 2004, Husain held the first exhibition of his limited edition serigraphs of Paris Suite at Pictures & Frames, Mumbai. The show lasted for 25 days from April 21 to May 15, 2004 and met with a huge success. Husain’s personal framer, Ashish Ajmera, the curator and owner of Pictures & Frames, purchased a few serigraphs from the series and later invested in serigraphs and limited edition books on the influential painter.

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