Unending anticipation

Online auction house AstaGuru is presenting its first Modern Indian Art auction, 2019. The auction has some stellar works including 40 lots. One of the key artwork is Nandalal Bose’s work titled Arjuna inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s play Chitrangada, a national treasure. It is the first time this particular work has been put up for sale and is an exemplary representation of his style.

Another one influenced by a Tagore’s play is Ganesh Pyne’s Raktakarabi. The artwork was executed during his formative years and aided his visual vocabulary. Another key work is from Bikash’s Doll Series. It was his work in the Doll Series that got a lot of critical acclaims and shot him to fame. The eerie quality lent to the work is because of his ability to depict these dolls and give them human characteristics and emotions. 

 

Raktakarabi by Ganesh Pyne.

Moving from the Bengal to Bombay Progressive, a painting titled ‘Portrait of a Girl’ by Husain is of importance. Not only does the work highlight Husain’s excellent portraiture skills but it also shows his long tryst with India’s first political family. Always enamoured by women in powerful positions, this particular work’s inspiration was Indira Gandhi.

The auction also features two important works by Francis Newton Souza. The first one is quite unique because it moves away from Souza’s usual depiction of human figures and depicts a horse in captivity.

Painted in 1963, it depicts a time in Souza’s life when he was exploring the theme of man’s bestiality towards the other.  

Metascape by Akbar Padmasee.

The second work of Souza goes back to Souza’s roots in Goa and his Catholic upbringing. Titled ‘The last Howl from the Cross’ it portrays the important scene of the crucifixion. In this work Souza depicts Christ in that moment of anguish.

Another highlight is a seminal work by S H Raza from his iconic La Terre Series. It marks a transitional phase in Raza’s work. This particular work with the colour composition reminiscent of the rich topography of India expresses his desire to return home.

While other artists dabbled with abstraction or inculcated it in their work much later, Gaitonde always stuck to this style. His works are a world within themselves.

A painting from 1963 and originally part of the collection from the Glenbarra Art Museum Japan is on display. The 1960s were the most definite decade for Gaitonde as he was deeply immersed in Zen philosophy and the influence is apparent in his work.

It also features a painting by Tyeb Mehta from 1962, which represents his expressionist paintings during that period. The work is executed with crude brush strokes, creating a heavily textured surface.