Much has been written about Husain's remarkable presence: about his pranks, his wit, his barefooted simplicity, his casual relationship with time and appointments, his ceaseless travel, and about his intoxication with the cities, streets, and people of this world to the point where it seems nothing human is foreign to him. Much has also been written about how he is able to turn everything from cars to canvases into a prodigious output of works of art works with joyous colors, fantastic horses and playful sensuality This persona is part of what makes his art wonderful But amidst the wonder of his work is also an achievement of intelligence and depth, one whose significance for our time cannot be overstressed, yet one which remains all too under-explored. My own brand of homage to Husain will be by way of exploration. I will seek to provide through a close reading of his works-a context in terms of which the profundity of his achievement can be made comprehensible. Providing such a context for the work should only make the jokes, sensuality and joyous colors look even more wonderful.
I have been immeasurably aided in this homage by Mr. Chester Herwitz, who is also my father. His collection of Husain's work is matched only by his dedication to it His factual knowledge of Husain's work is perhaps unparalleled by anyone except Husain himself. I have benefiteri from that. as I have also benefited from his discerning editorial eye. But perhaps most of all it is his insight into what Husain has to do with both traditional and modern India that has aided me in my own thinking. He is much appreciated.
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