Francis Newton Souza was born in the year 1924 in
Saligao, a small town in the state of Goa. Tragedy struck him at a very
young age, when he lost his father. He was also bogged down by a serious
attack of small pox. Such incidents provoked him to create his own niche
in this world. Francis Newton Souza took admission into the Sir J.J.
School of Art of Mumbai. But, was expelled for participating in the Quit
India Movement. Thereafter, he founded Progressive Artist's Movement in
1947, along with S.H. Raza, M.F, Hussain, K.H. Ara, etc.
F.N. Souza's biography and life history tells us that he left the
country in 1949 and went to London to pursue his interest in painting.
After struggling for a few years, he finally received recognition in the
1950's with his solo exhibition at the 'Gallery One' in London. Around
the same time, his autobiographical essay 'Nirvana of a Maggot' was
published. In 1959, another one of his books 'Words and Lines' was
published and it received literary recognition.
In the year 1967, F.N. Souza migrated to the New York City in America.
He participated in the 'Commonwealth Artists of Fame' exhibition in
London in 1977. Souza participated in an exhibition in Detroit in 1968.
His retrospectives were held in New Delhi and Mumbai in 1987. Francis
Newton Souza also had shows at the 'Indus Gallery' of Karachi in 1988
and the 'Bose Pacia Modern' of New York in 1998. He breathed his last in
the year 2002. Presently, the paintings of F.N. Souza adorn the Tate
Gallery of London and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi.
His Style
The subjects covered in the paintings of Francis Newton Souza comprise
of still life, landscape, nudes, icons of Christianity, etc. One of the
most recurring themes is that of the conflicts in a man-woman
relationship. However, the figures have been deliberately distorted and
reveal an uninhibited and realistic style. Souza was a rebel and
non-conformist and these views reflect in his painting style also. At
the same time, there is a visible influence of the folk art of Goa, the
Renaissance paintings, landscapes of the 18th and 19th century Europe,
etc.
