Untitled (Woman at Work) 1958

M.F. Husain made this painting, Untitled (Woman at Work), using expressive brushstrokes and a muted, earthy palette, all set against a deep blue backdrop. I can just imagine Husain standing before the canvas, maybe with some Indian music playing, lost in thought about the women in his life—perhaps his mother or wife—and how hard they worked. The paint looks thin, almost like watercolor in places, and then thicker where he’s defined the figure. There's a certain confidence in the way he's applied the paint. Look at the way he painted her outstretched hand! Husain reminds me of other artists who have spent their lives celebrating women, like Alice Neel or Paula Modersohn-Becker. They’re all in this amazing, ongoing conversation, inspiring each other across time. Ultimately, painting is a form of embodied expression, and each artist brings their unique perspective to the canvas.