Pervaiz Munir Alvi
Iqbal Hussain (1950- ) is often termed as the ‘controversial artist of Pakistan’. Although he is equally masterful in painting landscape and still life, yet he is best known for his portraits–mostly portraits of women that is.
He paints his landscape in romantic hues of dusty pink and soft blue and because of that has been called “Turner/Monet of the Punjab Landscape Schoolâ€. But in contrast to his style of landscape he chooses to paint his women in bright colors under full light with purposeful brush strokes. He is an impressionist and a realist at the same time. It appears as if intentionally, in his impressionism style landscapes he takes his viewers to a retreat of romantic dreams, but in his portraits in a clear opposition, he forces his viewers to see life in its stark realities.
So what is controversial about the art of Iqbal Hussain? Nothing really if you ask any art critic. An artist and his art could be escapist and realist at the same time. What makes him ‘controversial’, and that is mostly within Pakistan, are not his contrasting artistic styles but his conscious choice of female models and the way he presents them. Iqbal Hussain as a realist does not exaggerate or minimize the physical characters of his subjects like say Picasso would.
He paints his women the way they are in their real life. He just happens to show the side of life we wish not to acknowledge existing in our midst.
His fault is that he brings out in the open the ‘controversies’ that already exist within our societal norms and values; an act for which ‘respectable’ society has termed him as a ‘controversial’ artist. He is controversial because his women do not depict our perceived image of our self. We would like to think that his class of women does not exist in our Pakistan.
Because of his choice of female models, Iqbal Hussain like Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) is called a “painter of prostitutes and dancing girlsâ€.
Most of his models are the ‘professionals’ from Shahi Mahalla of Lahore whom he is either related to or he knows them personally. The famous red light district of Lahore is his Montmartre and Pigalle. His home is his Moulin Rouge.
But unlike Henri his girls are not shown in dancing forms, lifting their skirts, and exposing their legs and petticoats. Iqbal’s women are not nude or semi-naked or involved in some illicit acts as their profession might suggest. They are not even dancing suggestively or posing provocatively as they do during their work hours.
They are mostly some unknown and unremarkable women of modest looks and appearance. They are just there as they are in their real life; fully clothed stout women, sitting, squatting and with their blank eyes and resigned looks staring at the artist or simply at the empty air in front of them.
Ah, but they are the prostitutes from that ‘bazaar’ and that’s what is ‘controversial’ about Iqbal and his portraits. Iqbal’s women, unlike most respectable Pakistani women do not have their heads and bosoms covered with dopattas and chadors of ‘modesty’. They are bare footed and without the shoes of ‘respectability’. But what troubles us most in Iqbal’s women is the fact that they silently poke our conscience and raise questions about the otherwise obvious hypocrisy of our society.
They raise the questions that ‘respectable’ Pakistani society rather not to ask of it self. And that is what makes Iqbal Hussain so ‘controversial’!
Source:
Contemporary Painting in Pakistan, 1992.
By Professor Marcella Nesom Sirhandi, Ph.D.
Ferozsons, Lahore, Pakistan
This is a fascinating insight into Iqbal Hussain’s art! It’s compelling how he navigates between romantic landscapes and the stark realities of his portrait subjects. Understanding the context of his “controversy” within Pakistan truly adds another layer to appreciating his work. He sounds like an artist who isn’t afraid to challenge perceptions and make viewers confront uncomfortable truths. I’d love to see more of his pieces; your description makes me want to learn more about how artists like him approach the conversion of real-life scenes into their unique artistic expressions, much like how one might Convert Photo to Line to capture an essence.
This is a fascinating and insightful analysis of Iqbal Hussain’s work! It beautifully captures the essence of his “controversial” status, highlighting the dichotomy between his romantic landscapes and the stark reality of his portraits. The point about how he “forces viewers to see life in its stark realities” truly resonates. It’s refreshing to read a piece that delves beyond surface interpretations and examines the societal context of his art. For those interested in precision, understanding the exact dimensions of spaces can be helpful, much like an artist needs to understand their canvas, and a square feet calculator can assist with that.
This is a brilliant analysis of Iqbal Hussain’s work! It beautifully articulates the paradox of his art – the romantic landscapes juxtaposed with the stark realism of his portraits. The distinction between “controversial” in artistic terms versus societal perception is particularly insightful. It’s fascinating how he challenges viewers to confront realities many prefer to ignore. Your piece truly highlights the depth and impact of his unique approach. Understanding artists like Hussain deepens appreciation for all art forms, much like how tools like Free Block Poster Maker can help bring artistic visions to life.
This is a fascinating insight into Iqbal Hussain’s work! It’s remarkable how he balances the romanticism of his landscapes with the raw realism of his portraits, especially when depicting women. The “controversial” label, as you explain, really highlights a societal discomfort with acknowledging certain realities he bravely portrays. It makes me want to explore more of his art and see these contrasts firsthand. Thanks for shedding light on such a thought-provoking artist. Perhaps we could delve deeper into the cultural context of his controversies in a future post, or even hear AI Rumpelstiltskin‘s take on the impact of his work!
This is a fascinating insight into Iqbal Hussain’s work! I especially appreciate how you highlight the contrast between his romantic landscapes and the stark realism of his portraits. It’s truly thought-provoking how he uses art to confront societal discomfort, rather than shy away from it. His ability to be an impressionist and a realist simultaneously is what makes his art so compelling, and this piece really articulates that tension well. It makes you think about different ways to approach complex subjects, much like how one might use a cfa calculator online to dissect intricate financial data.