Untitled

From his early years, women formed a central theme in Souza's paintings. The present work from 1950, shows his preference for depicting robust, voluptuous women in bold frontal poses. Here, he has drawn inspiration from two divergent art traditions: the stone and metal sculptures of Mohenjo-daro combined with elements of African and Primitive art. The influence is seen in her physical characteristics as well as her accompanying attributes. "Woman as sex, life, and nature are a continuous strain in most of Souza's works and he invests them with age-old powers of fecundity." (Y. Dalmia, The Making of Modern Indian Art, The Progressives, New Delhi, 2001, p. 92. ) This is further emphasized by his choice of color, as noted by Rudy von Leyden; "His preference for elementary colors gives his work elementary, almost aboriginal qualities, haunting in their effect." (J. Mohan, Souza in the Forties, New Delhi, Dhoomi Mal Gallery, 1983.)