Francis Newton Souza (Indian, 1924-2002)
Sketch Book 1996-97 (20 Drawings including 2 artist inscriptions)
all signed and dated
mixed media on paper
each 18 x 26.5 cm
Footnotes:
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THE PROGRESSIVE ARTISTS

Provenance
Acquired from Christies, South Asian Modern & Contemporary Art, including Property from the Estate of Francis Newton Souza, 9th and 10th June 2010, lot 138.

Born Francisco Victor Newton de Souza, Souza was expelled from St Xavier's College, Bombay for drawing obscene graffiti in the bathrooms. He subsequently enrolled at the Sir J.J School of Art, Bombay but was expelled again, this time for participating in the Quit India Movement and pulling down the Union Jack flag during a school ceremony. Despite this, he became a founding member of the Bombay Progressives in 1947, and later emigrated to the UK in 1949, as his works were deemed to be obscene for Indian audiences. Initially he found little success in the UK, however his sold out 1955 exhibition at Victor Musgrave's Gallery cemented his status in the art world. His works, a combination of the eclectic, drew heavily on the post-war Art Brut movement and elements of British Neo-romanticism. The sketch book on offer in this auction made towards the end of his life is an amalgamation of his most well known motifs; sensual and statuesque nudes, faceless bodies, sex and the visceral and still life. They capture Souza's essence and illustrate the spontaneity that he is so well known for. The 18 drawings are accompanied by 2 inscriptions, as below.

The two inscriptions are:
'In a land of geniuses I chose to be a dumb-dumb.' Mumbai, Souza '97.

3 January '97 - Calcutta Museum
So much stuff on fertility: goddesses, lingams, yonis and cults - that no wonder modern India beats the brunt of overpopulation!

Men's origin is higgledy-piggledy! Who can ever render an apology to anthropology? That man ever attempts to record history, catalogue the diversity, label the facets shows the absurdity of his egotism, the futility of the exercise - worse: nature makes a mockery of him by forcing him to maintain such records in libraries and museum and archives! (Which turn out to be erroneous eventually...)

The infinity of the Cosmos and the cast branching of man cannot be categorised as subjects like cosmology and antropology, (biology and science and religion etc.) The answer is a humble retreat saying, I know that I know nothing.
This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: * AR
* VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium.
AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium.

Overall in good condition. There is protective paper which precedes each drawing and inscription except one except drawing. No creases, marks or water marks. Minor browning to the acid free paper in some spots. These spots have transferred to 6 drawings but is barely noticeable.