Mother Teresa by MF Husain

In this work, MF Husain presents Mother Teresa as a universal figure of care, protection, and compassion. Draped in her iconic white sari with blue borders, she appears in multiple forms across the composition, sitting, sheltering, and blessing, her presence multiplying into a collective spirit of nurturing.

At the center, a child in red and yellow leans on the folds of her sari, symbolizing innocence protected by her selfless love. On the left, her veiled form in yellow extends a white hand, while another child and animals gather close, evoking her mission of serving the most vulnerable. Above them, a child rests on a green leaf, a poetic reminder of fragility and the cycle of life. To the right, another maternal figure in saffron echoes the continuity of compassion across faiths and traditions.

The vibrant palette of yellow, orange, blue, and green creates a rhythm of hope against the earthy background. The layering of forms and gestures gives the artwork both intimacy and monumentality. This serigraph captures Husain’s deep reverence for Mother Teresa, making her not a single portrait but a symbol of humanity itself.