All that's gold

Monica Arora

In January 2017, the Indian art market intelligence firm Artery India released ‘Artery Top 500 Works’, which enlisted the 500 most expensive Indian works of art for a jaw-dropping collective price of Rs 1,936.6 crore. According to the list, at Rs 29.3 crore, Vasudeo S Gaitonde’s Untitled oil on canvas painting was the most expensive Indian artwork to have sold since 1965. Besides Gaitonde, other artists on the list included FN Souza whose Birth commanded $ 40,85,000 (` 26 crore approx), another Untitled work by Gaitonde for $ 37,92,400 (` 24 crore approx). And there was Raza’s Saurashtra at $ 34,86,965 (around ` 22 crore) and Raja Ravi Varma’s Radha in the Moonlight sold for an awesome amount of $ 33,87,900 (Rs 21 crore). Reviewing the highest priced Indian artworks to be sold at reputed auctions in 2017, Pundole’s April auction entitled The Fine Art Sale, witnessed some exquisite pieces going under the hammer.

The prolific Jamini Roy’s body of work defied all notions of modern painting back in the 19th century when he started his career. Deeply influenced by the Santhals, tribals who live in the rural districts of Bengal, he was able to amalgamate the minimalistic style of Kalighat with tribal elements of Bengal and preferred the use of organic dyes and pigments for his creations. One of his artworks to go under the hammer was an untitled painting, again Tempera on card. Originally valued between Rs 3 lakh and 5 lakh, it was finally bid for Rs 11 lakh. Measuring 31 1/2 x 15 7/8 inches, the painting was earlier in a private collection in the US.

The flamboyant artist Maqbool Fida Husain’s Tonga, oil on canvas work from 1955, had been acquired from historian Dr Lubor Hajek. Measuring 28 x 20 7/8 inches, this piece was sold for Rs 70 lakh, way above its estimated price of Rs 40 to 60 lakh. Husain revisited the theme of the tonga many times over in his illustrious career: as a child when he would ride in one or when he created wooden sculptural toys in the form a tonga for his newborn daughter, Raisa. Tribal, rural and native Indian motifs and representations formed a large part of Husain’s oeuvre and, in this creation, the tonga is seen galloping past dwellings in what appears to be a village or mofussil town on a muddy, kutcha part. What strikes the most is the vibrant use of colours such as fiery scarlet, blazing orange and white in contrast with a dark brown backdrop.

Indian masters continue to rake in the moolah even on foreign shores. Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art sale, held in New York on March 16, showcased an assortment of works procured from European and North American collectors. These included works by Bharti Kher, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza and Ganesh Pyne besides others.