Untitled

Husain's horses have become a central part of his oeuvre since his first representation of the animal in 1951. They are depicted as strong creatures, usually galloping, with reared heads and tremendous movement. His inspiration to paint horses was a combination of a trip to China where he studied Sung pottery horses and a trip to Italy where he discovered the equestrian sculptures of the Italian artist Marino Marini (1901-1980). Husain's horses are not plastic forms treated to stylistic variations; rather, they are sensuous creatures that have become personal symbols. In this work, the two horses are dramatically intertwined before a paneled backdrop or screen behind which a figure emerges. The position of the backdrop gives the work a theatricality that may find inspiration in Husain's long association with cinema and cinema billboards.