Souza’s 4 rare works to be auctioned this week

Panaji: A rare collection of four distinctive artworks by modernist painter of Goan origin, F N Souza, collectively valued at over Rs 1 crore, is set to lead the upcoming online auction by AstaGuru Auction House on July 29 and 30.The artworks include two pieces from his ‘Head’ series periods (1964 and 1985), a dynamic 1990 landscape, and a 1987 nude inspired by Khajuraho sculptures.“Souza was a pioneering force in the Indian modernist art movement,” said Sneha Gautam, the director of client relations at AstaGuru Auction House. “As a founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group in the 1940s, he was instrumental in challenging conventional Indian artistic traditions and introducing a bold modernist sensibility, especially at a time when the country was finding its distinct artistic voice.”Gautam said, “His work played a key role in shaping the trajectory of modern Indian art, bringing modernist styles and ideas to the forefront.”The artworks span various styles and themes that the artist concerned himself with throughout his career. The curation also showcases Souza’s command of and proficiency in varied mediums.Lot No. 37 and Lot No. 42 showcase his different takes on portraiture and are reminiscent of his ‘Head’ series. The series featured portraits influenced by European art movements that displayed the artist’s inner turmoil through the depiction of distorted faces.While Lot No. 37 is a colourful untitled work executed using acrylic on paper in 1985, Lot No. 42 is a charcoal-on-canvas work from 1964.Lot No. 56 belongs to Souza’s vast oeuvre of landscapes. Executed in 1990, the oil-on-canvas work exemplifies his visceral approach to environment and structure. With a dense web of jagged lines and rhythmic brushstrokes, the composition collapses foreground and background into a frenetic tangle of green, ochre, and blue.Lot No. 84 is an untitled pen-on-paper work executed in 1987. It reveals Souza’s fascination with creating nude works and the inspirations he took from the erotic sculptures of the Khajuraho temples.Captivated by the uninhibited expression of human desire found in these ancient carvings, Souza drew from their raw physicality and symbolism, particularly in his depictions of the female nude and intertwined couples.“Characterised by assertive lines, striking colours, and a fusion of abstraction and figuration, Souza’s art drew inspiration from Cubism, Expressionism, and other European movements,” Gautam said. “His paintings frequently explored existential and religious concerns, while also offering sharp critiques of social and political structures.”She said, “With a distinctive visual language, his use of line and colour imbued his work with dynamic tension, often evoking both intensity and unease. Souza left behind an unrivalled legacy of rebellion, paving the way for generations of artists to come.”