Maqbool Fida Husain was a renowned Indian painter and one of the most celebrated artists in the country. He was a self-taught artist who gained fame for his modern and distinctive style. He was a founding member of the Progressive Artists' Group in Bombay in the 1940s, along with other notable artists like Francis Newton Souza and Sayed Haider Raza. The group aimed to break away from traditional art styles and embrace more contemporary and experimental approaches.

Husain's work often depicted Indian themes and mythology, and he was particularly known for his paintings of horses and vibrant, dynamic compositions. He used a variety of mediums, including oil paintings, watercolors, and drawings.

While MF Husain received widespread acclaim for his art, he also faced controversy, especially in the later years of his life. Some of his paintings led to political and religious disputes, causing him to live in self-imposed exile for several years.

Despite the controversies, MF Husain's contributions to Indian art are widely acknowledged, and he remains the most influential figure in the Indian art world. His legacy continues through his extensive body of work and the impact he had on the modern art movement in India.

Mithuna are loving couples, commonly seen in warm embrace framing the doorways of Hindu temples, or even larger and more boldly flanking the entrance to a Buddhist chaitya (worship hall) such as those at Karli. Husain’s couple is enacting a flirtatious drama as a crow situated on a large wheel carefully observes the couple. Another mithuna (with four arms, but only one body visible) embraced at the far left. The viewer can enjoy the direct message and accomplished craftsmanship of this painting, most certainly based on an observation by Husain during his many travels throughout India.