An honest form of expression, art, is a creation of harmony of mind and heart on a naked canvas that is purely subjective. It takes a connoisseur of art to appreciate an artist’s work of art from his or her point of view. And, yes, you also need to be deep-pocketed.
Little wonder that some of the creative works of Indian artists have been sold at record-breaking prices in the recent past. Recently, one of India’s most celebrated artists, Amrita Sher-Gil’s oil-on-canvas painting, The Story Teller signed and dated 1937, fetched a staggering Rs 61.8 crore at a recent auction in New Delhi. It became one of the most expensive Indian artworks ever to be auctioned.
Barely 10 days before that, modernist painter Sayed Haider Raza’s Gestation was sold at a whopping Rs 51.75 crore.
Art Fervour
It is fascinating to know that in this world of right and wrong, “art” is the only act that cannot be concealed in either of the boxes. At the heart of the cultural mosaic lies India’s vibrant tradition of painting. India is a treasure trove of artistic expression and the birthplace of several renowned painters like Amrita Sher-Gil, VS Gaitonde, MF Hussain, Rabindranath Tagore, Tyeb Mehta, Satish Gujaral and many more.
The Storyteller portrays the feminine world in a rural domestic setting where women of households are sitting together and performing mundane activities in an open space. In this painting, a woman is telling a story to a group of women who are sitting on the floor while she is perched on a cot.
A man is discreetly observing them from a doorway, while a cow and its calf happily graze nearby. This painting sets a unique artistic palette that combines Parisian and Pahari elements.
Praising Sher-Gil’s simplicity and masterful depiction of reality in her work, Dinesh Vazirani, the CEO of Saffronart says, “The Storyteller is a merger of all her styles like Indian miniatures, European art style, and the influence of her travel to the caves of Ajanta and Ellora.” Sher-Gil was the first Indian woman to paint a nude self-portrait. She surpassed all the conventional boundaries and created an empathetic space for women to be free, carry multicultural identities, depict languorous poses, and perform routine affairs with pensive faces.
Abstract Form
In Sayed Haider Raza’s early career, he painted in a figurative style, but he gradually transitioned into abstract form. One of Raza’s abstract paintings, Gestation recently went under the hammer for Rs 51.75 crore at the Pundole Auction House, Mumbai. The acrylic-on-canvas painting is a composition of geometric patterns that has a circle in the centre depicting the leitmotif of Raza, ‘bindu’, complemented with a mandala of lines and triangles with flat earthy tone of colours. It was quite literally a gestation period for Raza to put his hands to abstract art during this period. An embodiment of his motherland, the ‘bindu’ in this painting signifies a sense of ‘wholeness’ or a void representing immense potent energy according to Indian metaphysics.
Seema Pandey, a Delhi-based artist and art educationist says, “His works are spiritually driven where some of his paintings even have the power of transporting you somewhere else. Even though there is repetition in his paintings, each piece is a new one on its own. Also, there is Indianness in the choice of colours – the vibrancy of yellow, orange, green. One needs to ‘experience’ Raza’s paintings to understand entirely because it ultimately grows on you.
Progressive Art
Vasudeo Santu Gaitonde, popularly known as a modern progressive artist has limited work to his name and one of them is an Untitled painting dated 1969 that was sold for a whopping Rs 42 crore in 2022 at Pundole’s Mumbai. Gaitonde’s transition to abstraction can be traced to his exposure to the work of European modernists and his engagement with the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group. He was deeply interested in the spiritual and meditative aspects of art, and his work often reflected a sense of serenity and contemplation. Like many of his abstract paintings, Untitled from 1969 is characterised by an interplay of colour, amorphous forms, light, and texture of blue and grey, creating a visually captivating composition that is a calming treat to the eyes.
Seema considers Gaitonde one of her favourite artists. She adulates his paintings by saying, “There are so many layers in his paintings if you observe them closely. They look minimalistic and monochromatic. The formlessness in his paintings is so appealing. But this particular (Untitled) painting is a little different from his usual abstractions primarily because it has some sense of forms which otherwise is nonrepresentational and merges with the background and colours itself.”
Contemporary Art
In the realm of Indian contemporary art, Tyeb Mehta is like an incandescent meteor whose work continues to captivate audiences around the world. Among his most iconic creations is the enigmatic Bull on Rickshaw. It is a painting that transcends mere imagery to convey profound socio-cultural commentary. It fetched a price of Rs 41.97 crore at the 2022 auction.
The painting depicts the plight of the working class in urban India, encapsulating the artist’s concern for the oppressed common man. This magnum opus is an exceptional example of Tyeb’s brilliance.
Uma Nair, an art critic, curator, and columnist, who calls Tyeb Mehta, ‘Mandarin of metaphors’, says, “When you look at Tyeb Mehta’s painting, you know for sure that there is deep spirituality in it which does not shout at you. It is an artist like him who tells us that the beauty of India is ‘loving’ and knowing, admiring and having reverence for the rituals that have come down so many ages.”
Mythological Wonders
Raja Ravi Varma, a guiding star in Indian art history has immeasurable contributions to the world of art. Among his most celebrated works, the Yashoda Krishna painting stands as a testament to his unparalleled skill and creativity which was sold for Rs 38 crore in February 2023.
The oil-on-canvas painting depicts the tender love of Mother Yashoda to her adopted son, Lord Krishna (Kanhaiya). The usage of soft brush strokes encapsulates the innocent moments of Krishna’s infancy.
Varma’s impeccable attention to detail is evident in every stroke of his brush. He brings to life the exquisite garments, intricate jewellery, and the radiant expressions of the characters. The painting is a blend of traditional Indian aesthetics with European techniques.
Tyeb Mehta tells us that the beauty of India is ‘loving’, knowing, admiring, and having reverence for the rituals that have come down so many ages.” — Uma Nair, art critic, curator, and columnist.
Raza’s works are spiritually driven. Some of his paintings even have the power of transporting you somewhere else.” —Seema Pandey, Delhi-based artist and art educationist
Most Expensive INDIAN Paintings
• Rs 61.8 crore — Amrita Sher-Gil’s
The Story Teller sold in Sept 2023
• Rs 51.75 crore — Sayed Haider Raza’s Gestation sold in Sept 2023
• Rs 42 crore — VS Gaitonde’s
Untitled sold in Feb 2022
• Rs 41.97 crore — Tyeb Mehta's Bull on Rickshaw sold in April 2022
• Rs 38 crore — Raja Ravi Varma’s Yashoda Krishna sold in Feb 2023
• Rs 34.5 crore — FN Souza’s oil painting Hunger sold in Aug 2023
