A rare photograph of a diverse group of legendary Pakistani painters taken likely in 1952.
On the left is Zubeida Agha, who is said to have introduced modern idiom to Pakistani painting. She is praised for her brilliant use of color. On her right is Shakir Ali, the first Pakistani principal of the National College of Arts in Lahore and among the country's most prominent art teachers. It was because of his influence that cubism became popular among the artists of Lahore. He is accompanied by Tajammul Akhtar, who also went on to become a principal of the National College of Arts.
The gentleman wearing a Jinnah cap is the great self-taught master of realism Ustad Allah Bukhsh, who rose from a humble background to be known worldwide for his phenomenal depictions of the folklore and rural life of Punjab. Seen behind Tajammul Akhtar and Ustad Allah Bakhsh is Anwarul Haq, who distinguished himself in landscape painting. To his right is Saifuddin, known especially for his paintings of the floods of East Pakistan in which he is said to have "discovered himself".
A young Abdul Rahman Chughtai can be seen in a safari suit. Influenced by Mughal and miniature art, Islamic traditions, and Art Nouveau, he developed his own unique style of painting. Zainul Abedin, the father of modern painting in East Pakistan, is on the extreme right. He went on to run Dacca's premiere art school.
On the left is Zubeida Agha, who is said to have introduced modern idiom to Pakistani painting. She is praised for her brilliant use of color. On her right is Shakir Ali, the first Pakistani principal of the National College of Arts in Lahore and among the country's most prominent art teachers. It was because of his influence that cubism became popular among the artists of Lahore. He is accompanied by Tajammul Akhtar, who also went on to become a principal of the National College of Arts.
The gentleman wearing a Jinnah cap is the great self-taught master of realism Ustad Allah Bukhsh, who rose from a humble background to be known worldwide for his phenomenal depictions of the folklore and rural life of Punjab. Seen behind Tajammul Akhtar and Ustad Allah Bakhsh is Anwarul Haq, who distinguished himself in landscape painting. To his right is Saifuddin, known especially for his paintings of the floods of East Pakistan in which he is said to have "discovered himself".
A young Abdul Rahman Chughtai can be seen in a safari suit. Influenced by Mughal and miniature art, Islamic traditions, and Art Nouveau, he developed his own unique style of painting. Zainul Abedin, the father of modern painting in East Pakistan, is on the extreme right. He went on to run Dacca's premiere art school.