Astaguru auction celebrates Indian art with rare works by iconic luminaries

Team L&M

The two-day Astaguru auction that begins tomorrow (October 27) will unveil a treasure trove of rare and previously unseen artworks in its upcoming auction Iconic Masters. It has 190 lots showing the journey of art through significant decades of Modern Indian Art and features works by revered names who shaped the nation’s artistic narrative.

Says Sneha Gautam, Senior Vice President, Client Relations, AstaGuru Auction House, “It is an extraordinary auction that not only showcases the revered works of India’s modern art legends but also offers a unique glimpse into their creative evolution. This collection brings together the iconic and the unexpected, revealing the depth and versatility of these artistic giants.”

The auction will showcase a host of unique works by artist SH Raza. Lot no. 126, titled Jagrat, was executed in the year 2004 and stands as a shining example of his exploration of the Bindu, an iconic and unifying element in his body of work. There also is another beautiful example of Raza landscapes from the early phase of his career – lot no. 31. Six more works by the artist will be showcased in the auction.

Lot no. 190 is a sublime work by artist Jehangir Sabavala titled The Sky Like A Burning Furnace, executed in the year 1968 and said to be inspired by his love for the sunsets of the town of Mahabaleshwar.

Another highlight of the auction is a work by old master Abdur Rahman Chughtai (watercolour on card work – lot no. 18), best known for his unique visual language, representative of South Asian culture, that fused many of his influences including Art Nouveau, Mughal art, traditional miniature paintings and Islamic art.

Another rare work – lot no. 1 – is a painting by renowned scientist Homi Jehangir Bhabha. Titled Dove Sono I Belli Momenti, the 1938 oil on canvas work was inspired by the creations of Italian Renaissance master El Greco.

The auction also shines a light on the diverse artistic inspiration of seminal artist M.F Husain. Lot no. 76 is an untitled oil on canvas work from the year 1976. It is a grand example of his special affinity for the national animal of the country – the tiger. Much like his other works depicting animals, the presented lot too sees the tiger in motion. Lot no. 105 is a work from his famous ‘Mother Teresa’ series, which held a special place in his heart. It was executed in 1990 with watercolour on paper.

Lot no. 98 titled A Season of Watermelons, is a grand scale work by Krishen Khanna. In this work, he depicts the onset of summer, which is reflected through the blazing colour composition. Three works in varied mediums based on his famous theme of Bandwallahs will also be on offer.

Lot no. 95 is a poignant abstract landscape painting from the oeuvre of artist Ram Kumar, executed with oil on canvas in 1965.

Four works by artist KH Ara, including two still life, one nude, and a portrait painting will also be showcased.

Lot no. 68 is an important creation by influential sculptor Himmat Shah. His unique artistic vision, distinct techniques and modernist approach to creating impressive abstract sculptures earned the sculptor recognition globally.

Others artists whose works will be on auction include Himmat Shah, Somenath Hore, PV Janakiram, S Nandagopal, Prodosh Das Gupta, Ram Kumar, Thota Vaikuntam, Sarbari Roy Chowdhury, S Dhanpal, B Vithal, K Laxma Goud, and Jogen Chowdhury, Chintamoni Kar, Amrita Sher-Gil, Arpana Caur, Anjolie Ela Menon, Jaya Appasamy, and Zarina Hashmi.