Untitled (Lady with Tanpura) 

M.F. Husain made this 'Untitled (Lady with Tanpura)' painting. It depicts a woman with a tanpura, a stringed instrument central to Indian classical music. Husain was a major figure in post-colonial Indian art. In a newly independent nation seeking its identity, artists negotiated between Western modernism and indigenous traditions. Husain here uses a modernist style—simplified forms and bold colors—to depict a traditional Indian subject. The woman, rendered in an unconventional teal, leans against the tanpura, set against an abstract background. This blend reflects India's evolving cultural landscape. The work raises questions about the role of art in shaping national identity and cultural heritage. It can be further understood through studies of Indian modernism, the Progressive Artists' Group to which Husain belonged, and post-colonial art theory. The image prompts us to consider how artists engage with their cultural context.