Maqbool Fida Husain (1915-2011)
Untitled (Ganesh Riding a Horse with the Sun)
signed 'Husain' lower left and signed 'Husain' verso, circa early 1990s
acrylic on paper board, framed
58.8 x 90.4cm (23 1/8 x 35 9/16in).
Footnotes:
Provenance
Property from a private collection, England.
Acquired from the artist in the late 2000s.

Untitled (Ganesh riding a horse with the sun) illustrates Husain's ability to fuse traditional Indian mythological themes with contemporary artistic expressions. In this painting, Husain presents Lord Ganesh, the elephant-headed deity, in a dynamic and unconventional form. Ganesh is traditionally depicted as a portly figure seated on a lotus, symbolizing wisdom and auspiciousness. However, Husain reimagines Ganesh in a novel and dynamic avatar, riding a powerful horse.

The central figure of Lord Ganesh is portrayed with grace and vitality as he confidently guides the galloping horse beneath him. This amalgamation of two distinct elements, Ganesh and the horse creates a sense of harmony and unity, bridging the gap between tradition and contemporary interpretation.

The presence of the sun held in Ganesh's hand adds a celestial and ethereal dimension to the composition. The sun a symbol of light, knowledge and life itself, is cradled by Ganesh's divine presence, signifying his role as a remover of obstacles and a source of enlightenment.

Husain's use of bold, vibrant colours; bright yellow, primary blue, vermilion and brilliant green coupled with his dynamic brushwork infuses the painting with energy and movement. The background is awash in warm, cool and fiery hues of brown, blue and red creating a vivid contrast with the rosehip red and cool white of Ganesh and the horse. The two sets of vertical red lines and dot at either end of the composition are probably a variation on the tripundra or rudra-tilaka, an ornamental spot traditionally worn on the forehead by Shaivas, followers of the Lord Shiva. Husain has incorporated this into his painting and Lord Shiva appears to be protecting his son Lord Ganesh.

The importance of Ganesh in Hinduism and horses in traditional art act as a tool for Husain to discuss the topic of the re-appropriation of cultural roots. The search for a national identity after India's independence in 1947 represents the perennial focus of Husain's art. The end of colonial rule left a hole in the national identity that artists, among others, tried to fill and shape with bringing back a past that was cast aside in favour of Western customs and traditions. Throughout his career Husain remained steadfast in his dedication to this. Perhaps this is the reassuring beauty of his art, the knowledge that regardless of the colours or technique used and the subject employed, Husain's love for his country and its history always prevailed.

Overall in good condition. No scratches, tears or marks. The colours of the original are slightly less saturated than those in the catalogue and in the online illustrations. Unexamined out of frame.