Rome 8

Souza's Goan Catholic upbringing and his subsequent ambivalence towards the Church was an oft-repeated theme in his work. In this 1960 painting, Souza has begun to let go of the crisp linear organization of his earlier cityscapes and indulges in a more expressionistic style. The artist, however, still relies on the use of bold black line to delineate detail and areas of color, a technique which might have been derived from the stained glass windows of the churches and cathedrals. The thick violent brushstroke is indicative of how Souza viewed his art as a cataclysmic force and as catharsis. He states, "Painting for me is not beautiful. It is as ugly as a reptile. I attack it. It coils and recoils making fascinating patterns. I am not, however interested in patterns... It is the serpent in the grass that is really fascinating." (A. Jhaveri, A Guide to 101 Modern & Contemporary Indian Artists, 2005, p. 87).