Tsuktiben Jamir
AstaGuru in Mumbai, Maharashtra is a premier online auction house for art, antiques, and luxury in India that was founded in 2008. Over time, AstaGuru has emerged as the most reputable source for original artwork and collectibles. In 2018, AstaGuru also became the first Indian auction house to provide a special edition for antique and historic automobiles.
AstaGuru has recently concluded their latest auction under the banner ‘Masters Legacy’ which was scheduled for 29th-30th April 2023. India produced some of the most important and innovative painters of the 20th century, who would go on to influence modern Indian art and motivate the future generations of creatives. India also gained independence during this century, which led to significant changes; many artists at the time aimed to establish an independent voice that was fiercely Indian and had an impact on the world. This led to the creation of several creative artists who left behind enduring legacies that are still relevant today. The ‘Masters Legacy’ auction by AstaGuru of Modern Indian Art featured pieces by renowned modernists who transformed Indian art.
The collection for the auction included works by many artists who helped shape the history of Modern Indian Art, including Nicholas Roerich, M.V. Dhurandhar, M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza, F.N. Souza, Tyeb Mehta, H.A. Gade, Ganesh Pyne, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Jogen Chowdhury, Krishen Khanna, K.G. Subramanyan.
Courtesy: Luxury Abode.
The auction was able to reel in a whopping Rs. 47.5 crores (approx.) as the total winning value. The most expensive winning piece at the auction was a beautiful landscape painting by F.N. Souza called “Landscape,” which was finished in 1962 when the artist was living in London. It fetched about Rs. 6.8 crores while another painting of Souza’s ‘Untitled’ was sold for about Rs. 1.8 crore. Following this, M. F. Husain’s oil on canvas painting ‘Paradoxa,’ which was made around 1970 and is being sold at an auction for the first time, reeled in about Rs. 5.8 crores. Another one of his own paintings ‘Untitled’ was sold for Rs. 5 crores at the auction.
Courtesy: Luxury Abode.
Prabhakar Barwe’s ‘Bewitching Black’ (1968) is a great example of the artist’s obsession with abstraction; it features playing cards that are encircled by abstract shapes. This painting fetched about Rs. 2.9 crores, while S H Raza’s ‘Le Village’ (1956) sold for Rs. 1.8 crore. K.H Ara’s ‘Untitled’ is considered one of Ara’s most significant art pieces. At the time it was made, the artist had mastered both his craft and his subject. This painting sold for about Rs. 80 lakhs. The artist Nicholas Roerich’s ‘The Hut’ which was created while the artist was residing in London, fetched about Rs. 1 crore.
Among many other artworks that were sold at the auction, four of M F Hussain’s paintings, four of S H Raza’s, three of F N Souza’s, and three of Ganesh Pyne’s works were sold.
The Vice President – Client Relations at AstaGuru, Sneha Gautam said, “The auction offers connoisseurs and art enthusiasts an uncommon opportunity to acquire significant works by eminent personalities of Indian modernism. These works not only exemplify the innovative artistic experimentation that characterised the modern era in India, but also the cultural diversity that formed the country’s artistic landscape. With a selection of paintings, sculptures, and other works demonstrating the creativity and ingenuity of India’s modernists, this auction provides our seasoned collectors with a unique opportunity to acquire rare and museum-quality pieces.”
