M. F. Husain, Artist
Artist

M. F. Husain

Born 17 September 1915 · Maharashtra — Died 9 June 2011

Co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group that shaped Indian modern art post-1947.

Maqbool Fida Husain was an Indian painter and film director who painted narrative paintings in a modified Cubist style. One of the founding members of Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, Husain is associated with Indian modernism in the 1940s. His early association with the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group used modern technique, and was inspired by the "new" India after the partition of 1947. His narrative paintings, executed in a modified Cubist style, can be caustic and funny as well as serious and sombre.

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A detail that
surprised us

“

M.F. Husain once designed and built toys to supplement his income while painting Bollywood cinema posters in the 1930s.

The Story

1
🎨 In 1934, on a roadside in Mumbai, a young M.F. Husain sold his first painting for just 10 rupees, marking the start of a career that would span over 10,000 works.
2
🖼️ In December 1947, Husain co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, a collective born from the trauma of Partition, determined to redefine Indian art with modernist techniques.
3🌍 Husain's first solo exhibition took place in 1952 in Zürich, Switzerland, introducing his modified Cubist style to a European audience and beginning his international recognition.
4In 1967, Husain won the National Film Award for Best Experimental Film for "Through the Eyes of a Painter," showcasing his versatility beyond canvas into filmmaking.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Padma Bhushan
—
Padma Vibhushan

🔍 One thing most people don't know

“

In 1934, Husain sold his first painting for only 10 rupees on a Mumbai roadside, a humble beginning before rising to global fame.

🖼️

Through the Years

3 photographs from the archives
M. F. Husain with Inder Kumar Gujral and others in a group photo (1957).
M. F. Husain with Inder Kumar Gujral and others in a group photo (1957).
1957
M. F. Husain visiting artist Beohar Rammanohar Sinha to see his paintings (1986).
Profile image of M. F. Husain from the book शिल्पकार चरित्रकोश खंड ६ - दृश्यकला (2013).

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Pandharpur, Maharashtra
Maqbool Fida Husain was born into a Suleymani Bohra family in Pandharpur, Bombay Province.
1915
⚡
Career
First painting sold for 10 rupees
Husain sold his first artwork on a Mumbai roadside, marking his entry into the art world.
1934
⚡
Career
Founded Bombay Progressive Artists' Group
In response to Partition, Husain and peers formed a group to modernize Indian art using avant-garde styles.
1947
⚡
Career
First solo exhibition in Zürich
Husain introduced his work to European audiences with a solo show in Switzerland.
1952
🏅
Award
Won National Film Award
Received Best Experimental Film for 'Through the Eyes of a Painter' at the National Film Awards.
1967
⚡
Career
Entered self-imposed exile
Facing legal and political pressures over controversial paintings, Husain left India and lived abroad.
2006
🌟
Other
Accepted Qatari citizenship
Husain officially became a citizen of Qatar while continuing to create and exhibit art internationally.
2010
🕊️
Death
Passed away in London
Husain died at Royal Brompton Hospital, ending a controversial but prolific artistic life.
2011
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Husain won the National Film Award for Best Experimental Film in 1967 for 'Through the Eyes of a Painter', blending visual art with cinema.

02 / 04
👤PERSONAL

Despite surrendering his Indian passport in 2010 and gaining Qatari citizenship, Husain repeatedly affirmed, "India is my motherland, and I simply cannot leave that country."

03 / 04
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

Husain’s nude painting of Bharat Mata, shaped like India's map, triggered lawsuits and death threats, ultimately forcing him into self-imposed exile in 2006.

“

"I never wanted to be clever, esoteric, abstract. I wanted to make simple statements. I wanted my canvases to have a story. I wanted my art to talk to people."

— M. F. Husain

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
M. F. Husain talks about his audio book 'Suno Suno M. F. Husain Ki Kahani'
More from this archive
M. F. Husain talks about his audio book 'Suno Suno M. F. Husain Ki Kahani'
01
M. F. Husain talks about his audio book 'Suno Suno M. F. Husain Ki Kahani'
Talking Heads: M F Husain (Aired: 2000)
02
Talking Heads: M F Husain (Aired: 2000)
IN CONVERSATION - M. F. HUSSAIN
03
IN CONVERSATION - M. F. HUSSAIN
IN CONVERSATION - LATE. M. F. HUSSAIN
04
IN CONVERSATION - LATE. M. F. HUSSAIN
M. F. Husain | The Pritish Nandy Show | TEASER | PNC
05
M. F. Husain | The Pritish Nandy Show | TEASER | PNC
MF Husain: Let down by India?
06
MF Husain: Let down by India?
Husain speaks exclusively to NDTV
07
Husain speaks exclusively to NDTV
Husain: Let down by India?
08
Husain: Let down by India?
Amitabh Bachchan releases book on M. F. Husain's life 'M. F. Husain where art thou'
09
Amitabh Bachchan releases book on M. F. Husain's life 'M. F. Husain where art thou'
MF Husain: INDEX on CENSORSHIP AWARDS 2011
10
MF Husain: INDEX on CENSORSHIP AWARDS 2011

🌱 What changed because of them

M.F. Husain's founding of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group catalyzed a break from nationalist art styles, pushing Indian modernism onto the global stage through exhibitions in Europe and beyond. His controversial subjects sparked national debates on secularism, artistic freedom, and cultural representation, influencing legal discourse on freedom of expression in India. His exile underscored tensions between art and politics, while his international recognition helped establish Indian art as a significant player in the global modern art movement.

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