After fleeing Nazi Europe Walter and Käthe Langhammer, Emanuel Schlesinger and Rudolf von Leyden created an informal art circle in Bombay during the 1940s which included major Indian artists such as S.H. Raza, M. F. Hussain and K.H. Ara. Their interest and involvement in modern art was genuine and not merely prompted by a sense of patronage but by a strong belief in Indian contemporary art.

Margit Franz (Universität Graz) has written two books and given several lectures on the subject. For those interested in Austrian art in exile this talk is an opportunity to learn about the relativelz unknown contribution Austrian exiles made to contemporary Indian art.

Group photo: 

S.H. Raza-vernissage, Bombay Art Society, 1948
First row - from left: Unknown, S.H. Raza, Käthe Langhammer, Rudi von Leyden
Second row - from left: Walter Langhammer, K.H. Ara, Emanuel Schlesinger
*courtesy of S.H. Raza