Forgers are terribly talented, says Husain

MUMBAI: India''s master painter M.F. Husain last month failed to recognise that three copies of his works displayed by a city dealer were fakes.
"We had a long discussion during which I asked him at what point in his career he had painted these watercolours. That''s because they are quite different from his trademark style, there''s more emphasis on line and wash.I also pointed out that the ‘F'' in the signature looked rather different. However, when he said ‘Ye mera kaam hai'', I went ahead and bought them," the dealer added.
When Husain subsequently told her that the paintings were copies, she was taken aback. "Husainsaab revealed this to me only when I asked him to come and sign one of the paintings which was unsigned," she said. The dealer later sent the paintings back to Husain with a covering letter (a copy of which was given to this paper).
In her letter, the dealer wrote, "If upon seeing them again and after deeper reflection you feel they are genuine, please document them as being so. If on the other hand, you feel I have been cheated and that you were mistaken in your initial assertion as to their authenticity, please destroy them or do whatever you decide should be done."
When asked whether he intended to file a complaint against the forged paintings, Husain replied that he had no intention of doing so. "I am not interested in filing a police complaint. Our copyright laws are so lax that it is next to impossible to nab the culprit," the veteran artist declared. "Going to court is an exercise in futility. I know because I have done it in the past. The only ones who benefitted were the lawyers."
Characteristically, the flamboyant Husain, who has weathered many storms during his career, seems unperturbed by the latest imbroglio.
"Fakes have been around throughout the history of art. But I admit that I''m confounded by the quality of the fakes floating around in the Indian market," he said. "I''m told that the outfits which turn out copies often employ art students. I must say that these copyists are terribly talented."