- 588
Maqbool Fida Husain
Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 USD
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Description
- Maqbool Fida Husain
- Untitled (from the Wings of Desire series)
- Signed and dated 'Husain / Jan. '89' upper right and further inscribed 'The Kathakali / curtain about to / be raised. / Gumeet's girl / dissolves into / Puerto Rican pink. / Three onions / are left in / Sakhubai's / vegetable / basket.' lower right
- Acrylic on canvas
- 58¼ x 44⅞ in. (147.7 x 114 cm.)
- Painted in 1989
Exhibited
Hempstead, New York, Emily Lowe Gallery, Hofstra University, Indian Art After Independence, October - December 2009
New York, Rubin Museum of Art, Colonnade Feature: Husain, July 2012 - March 2013
New York, Rubin Museum of Art, Colonnade Feature: Husain, July 2012 - March 2013
Condition
There is minor wear along the edges with associated losses, particularly in the lower left edge. Very minute spots of loss are visible in the green areas only upon close inspection. This work is in overall very good condition. The reds on the clothing of the figure on the left are more saturated in the print catalog.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Traditionally, there are 101 Kathakali stories though less than one third of them are portrayed on stage. Kathakali lasts throughout the night and is considered to be a classical art form, including dance, elaborate costumes, and depicting famous allegories from various epics. Blending together dance, music, and dramatized scenes, the characters on stage enact stylized versions of myths.
There are more than a few polarities that need to be accounted for when looking at this work by Maqbool Fida Husain; namely, the title, the writings on the canvas, and the artist’s love for cinema. His love for film was widely known, and he began his career in art at the age of 18, by painting cinema billboards.
In 1987, the German film Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire) was shown at Cannes with the English subtitled version released in 1988. This romantic fantasy film follows two immortal angels who in turn follow the humans of West Berlin and comfort those in distress. One of the angels closely watches a trapeze artist who he falls in love with. The film switches from the point of view of the angels, with monochrome and sepia-colored film, to human perspective in full-color. One of the angels decides to follow in the footsteps of a fallen angel and give up immortality for humanity; with humanity the full spectrum of experiences of life – color, pain, love, sadness, and joy. The angel actively shifts from one who strictly observes life to a participant, with agency in his own right.
As almost a direct emotional response to the film, Husain created this work, just a year after its release to the general public. Putting the characters from The Wings of Desire into an Indian context, Husain shows an ethereal figure as holding up a sheet across his body, which pulls away the depth of the color that the rest of the work portrays; the male figure is wearing a turban and gesturing towards the angel-like figure; and the female figure is turned away not privy to the exchange between the other two characters.
There are more than a few polarities that need to be accounted for when looking at this work by Maqbool Fida Husain; namely, the title, the writings on the canvas, and the artist’s love for cinema. His love for film was widely known, and he began his career in art at the age of 18, by painting cinema billboards.
In 1987, the German film Der Himmel über Berlin (Wings of Desire) was shown at Cannes with the English subtitled version released in 1988. This romantic fantasy film follows two immortal angels who in turn follow the humans of West Berlin and comfort those in distress. One of the angels closely watches a trapeze artist who he falls in love with. The film switches from the point of view of the angels, with monochrome and sepia-colored film, to human perspective in full-color. One of the angels decides to follow in the footsteps of a fallen angel and give up immortality for humanity; with humanity the full spectrum of experiences of life – color, pain, love, sadness, and joy. The angel actively shifts from one who strictly observes life to a participant, with agency in his own right.
As almost a direct emotional response to the film, Husain created this work, just a year after its release to the general public. Putting the characters from The Wings of Desire into an Indian context, Husain shows an ethereal figure as holding up a sheet across his body, which pulls away the depth of the color that the rest of the work portrays; the male figure is wearing a turban and gesturing towards the angel-like figure; and the female figure is turned away not privy to the exchange between the other two characters.