Francis Newton Souza

© National Portrait Gallery, London

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Francis Newton Souza

by Ida Kar
quarter-plate film negative, 1957
Purchased, 1999
Photographs Collection
NPG x127157

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Ida Kar (1908-1974), Photographer. Artist or producer associated with 1567 portraits, Sitter in 137 portraits.

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Kar photographed Souza on several occasions; he is shown here in his London studio with Landscape with Church (1957), a portrait and a nude.

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  • Freestone, Clare (appreciation) Wright, Karen (appreciation), Ida Kar Bohemian Photographer, 2011 (accompanying the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery from 10 March to 19 June 2011), p. 89 Read entry

    Souza had a Catholic upbringing in Goa and studied at the Sir J. J. (Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy) School of Art, Bombay (Mumbai). He was a founding member of the Progressive Artists Group, encouraging Indian artists to participate in art internationally. In 1949 he left India for London. Souza received little recognition until 1954, when Stephen Spender's magazine Encounter published his autobiographical essay 'Nirvana of a Maggot' and he was included in a group show at the Institute of Contemporary Arts where Victor Musgrave became aware of his work. Gallery One held Souza's first solo (sell-out) show in February 1955 and John Berger's review of Souza's 'interesting and puzzling' figurative work, which commented on its expressionist and art brut influences, gave a further boost to the artist's career. Gallery One continued to represent Souza, giving him five solo shows between 1956 and 1961, the last of which was held at the North Audley Street premises, where his larger paintings could be displayed. In a contemporary review in Apollo Souza was quoted as saying, 'I leave discretion, understatement, and discrimination to the finicky and lunatic fringe.' Kar photographed Souza on several occasions - once with his third wife and baby. He is shown here in his London studio with Landscape with Church (1957), a portrait and a nude. In 1959 Souza's Words and Lines was published, and from 1967 he lived in New York, returning to India shortly before his death.

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Events of 1957back to top

Current affairs

Harold Macmillan takes over as Conservative prime minister, manoeuvring Eden out of power after his poor handling of the Suez Crisis the previous year.
The Wolfenden Report recommends that homosexuality should no longer be a criminal offence. It still took ten years, however, before any changes were made to the law on homosexuality with the Sexual Offences Act in 1967.

Art and science

The Today Programme is first broadcast on Radio 4. This early morning current affairs programme is known for breaking major stories early, and for its hard-hitting approach and tough interviewing style. Presenters have included: Robert Robinson, Brian Redhead, Libby Purves, Jenni Murray, Sue MacGregor, John Humphrys, Anna Ford and James Naughtie.

International

The Treaty of Rome leads to the formation of the European Economic Community. Officially beginning on 1st January 1958, the EEC established a European Common Market, where goods, services, labour and capital could move freely within the European member countries, and shared policies were agreed for labour, social welfare, agriculture, transport, and foreign trade. The EEC preceded the European Community, and the European Union.

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