Female Figure 1950

This figure by M.F. Husain is made from an earthy monochrome ink, and it's all about the line. It's all contour and the barest minimum of form; look at the face, or how he suggests her breasts with two almost cartoonish circles. I can imagine Husain making this, quickly and without much fuss. The ink probably bled into the page a little, but he just kept going. A lot of modern art is about getting out of your own way and letting the artwork create itself. The more you try to control it, the more likely you are to ruin it. You can see the way he’s made quick, almost nervous marks, a bit like Matisse, but with the flavor of Indian miniature painting—it's like he’s trying to capture the essence of something rather than represent every little detail. It’s a conversation. We’re all in dialogue with each other across time, inspiring each other to see the world in new ways.