Sean Mandy
Editor of The Illustrated Weekly of India

Artist F. N. Souza (1924 – 2002)

dated 1955, Oil on paper
22.5 x 16 in. (57.2 x 40.6 cm.)

This striking black-and-white portrait of Sean Mandy, created in 1954 by F. N. Souza, captures not just the likeness of a man but a vital figure in the story of modern Indian art. Mandy, the last British editor of the Illustrated Weekly of India before independence, played a pivotal role in championing avant-garde Indian artists, particularly those associated with the Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG). As a friend and supporter, Mandy offered visibility to these radical voices through his editorials and features, helping shape public discourse around post-colonial Indian art.

F. N. Souza, a founding member of the PAG, was known for his bold, often confrontational style, combining expressionism with a raw emotional force. This portrait, rendered in monochrome on oil paper, reflects Souza’s characteristic use of stark contours and dense textures to evoke psychological depth. Mandy’s face is marked by a brooding intensity—perhaps reflective of his complex position as a colonial figure aligned with Indian modernism. The work is more than a tribute; it’s an assertion of Souza’s radical vision and his respect for a rare ally in the colonial establishment. The portrait stands as a document of friendship, mutual respect, and the intertwined fates of art and journalism in transitional India.