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Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Souza's 4 rare works to be auctioned this week
Panaji: A rare collection of four distinctive artworks by modernist painter of Goan origin, F N Souza, collectively valued at over Rs 1 crore, is set to lead the upcoming online auction by AstaGuru Auction House on July 29 and 30. The artworks include two pieces from his 'Head' series periods (1964 and 1985), a dynamic 1990 landscape, and a 1987 nude inspired by Khajuraho sculptures. 'Souza was a pioneering force in the Indian modernist art movement,' said Sneha Gautam, the director of client relations at AstaGuru Auction House. 'As a founding member of the Progressive Artists' Group in the 1940s, he was instrumental in challenging conventional Indian artistic traditions and introducing a bold modernist sensibility, especially at a time when the country was finding its distinct artistic voice. ' Gautam said, 'His work played a key role in shaping the trajectory of modern Indian art, bringing modernist styles and ideas to the forefront.' The artworks span various styles and themes that the artist concerned himself with throughout his career. The curation also showcases Souza's command of and proficiency in varied mediums. Lot No. 37 and Lot No. 42 showcase his different takes on portraiture and are reminiscent of his 'Head' series. The series featured portraits influenced by European art movements that displayed the artist's inner turmoil through the depiction of distorted faces. While Lot No. 37 is a colourful untitled work executed using acrylic on paper in 1985, Lot No. 42 is a charcoal-on-canvas work from 1964. Lot No. 56 belongs to Souza's vast oeuvre of landscapes. Executed in 1990, the oil-on-canvas work exemplifies his visceral approach to environment and structure. With a dense web of jagged lines and rhythmic brushstrokes, the composition collapses foreground and background into a frenetic tangle of green, ochre, and blue. Lot No. 84 is an untitled pen-on-paper work executed in 1987. It reveals Souza's fascination with creating nude works and the inspirations he took from the erotic sculptures of the Khajuraho temples. Captivated by the uninhibited expression of human desire found in these ancient carvings, Souza drew from their raw physicality and symbolism, particularly in his depictions of the female nude and intertwined couples. 'Characterised by assertive lines, striking colours, and a fusion of abstraction and figuration, Souza's art drew inspiration from Cubism, Expressionism, and other European movements,' Gautam said. 'His paintings frequently explored existential and religious concerns, while also offering sharp critiques of social and political structures.' She said, 'With a distinctive visual language, his use of line and colour imbued his work with dynamic tension, often evoking both intensity and unease. Souza left behind an unrivalled legacy of rebellion, paving the way for generations of artists to come.'
Time of India
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Set of Rabindranath Tagore's letters fetched a whopping Rs 5.9 crore
Rabindranath Tagore's handwritten letters to Dhurjati Prasad Mukherji were auctioned. The letters fetched Rs 5.9 crore. It is the second-highest price for Tagore's work at auction. AstaGuru Auction House conducted the sale. A sculpture by Tagore, "The Heart", was also sold. The letters chronicle Tagore's creative and intellectual life. They were written between 1927 and 1936. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Classified as national art treasures, an archival lot of 35 handwritten letters with 14 envelopes that Rabindranath Tagore penned to his confiante sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukherji fetched Rs 5.9 crore at an online auction, possibly the second-highest price ever achieved for a single lot under Tagore's name that had gone under the hammer over the sale of the set of letters was conducted by AstaGuru Auction House between June 26 and June result is especially significant considering the lot was not a visual artwork but a manuscript-based archive and yet became the second-highest price ever achieved for a Rabindranath Tagore creation at auction, said AstaGuru's chief marketing officer Manoj estimated price for the letters was Rs 5-7 crore.A sculpture "The Heart", hailed as the only sculptural piece attributed to Tagore was sold for Rs 1.05 crore, significantly higher than the estimated price of Rs 55 lakh to Rs 70 lakh. The quartzite piece was crafted in 1883 when the polymath was barely 22 and was in contemplative retreat in Karwar, broke the news of Tagore's letters and the sculpture going under the hammer in its June 21 edition."The overwhelming response to both lots — particularly the extraordinary result achieved by the letters — reinforces the growing recognition of archival and manuscript-based material as valuable cultural artefacts. These works offer not just collectible value, but living, breathing connections to India's intellectual and artistic heritage,' Mansukhani between 1927 and 1936, the letters chronicled the creative evolution of Tagore, the first non-European Nobel winner in literature, and his deeply illuminating intellectual belonging to a private Kolkata-based collection, these letters are classified as non-exportable. Many of these letters are preserved through a string of publications in journals like Parichay and books like Chhanda, Sahityer Pathe, Sur O Sangati and Sangit letters are written on different letterheads — from Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence, Glen Eden in Darjeeling, and aboard his houseboat, Padma — tracing Tagore's intellectual and geographic journey, Astaguru said in the catalogue.
Indian Express
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
35 handwritten letters by Rabindranath Tagore, estimated to fetch Rs 5-7 crore, to be auctioned
A set of 35 handwritten letters written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore to sociologist and musicologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji are set to go under the hammer at AstaGuru's 'Collectors' Choice' auction that will be held online on June 26-27. Belonging to a private Kolkata-based collection, the set of letters written between 1927 to 1936, are estimated to fetch Rs 5 to 7 crore. The lot also includes 14 envelopes. Classified as 'National Art Treasure', which cannot be taken out of India, the letters reflect the relationship shared between Tagore and Mukerji, who was his close confidante. 'These letters go beyond mere communication; they offer a glimpse into Tagore's inner world during a period of profound artistic evolution. Within them, we witness the poet, the painter, the thinker — expressing himself across letterheads that trace his journey from Santiniketan to Darjeeling to his houseboat, Padma. The provenance, too, is exceptional. This set is a rare convergence of literary, cultural, and philosophical importance. These are not just letters — they are portals into a changing India, a poet's unfolding vision, and the very ethos that shaped Santiniketan,' notes Manoj Mansukhani, CMO, AstaGuru Auction House. Written in Bengali on pages with different letterheads — including Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence and Glen Eden in Darjeeling — the discussions between the two span numerous subjects, including cultural activities, poetry and Visva-Bharati University, founded by Tagore in 1921 in Santiniketan. One letter, for instance, has the polymath discussing his poems in 'Punascha' and 'Shesh Saptak' and how critics received them. 'The rhythm of silence,' he noted, 'is part of the poem.' Another letter has him appreciating artist Nandalal Bose, who anchors what Tagore describes as 'Nandanology'. While several of these letters have previously been published in literary magazines such as Parichay, and books like Sangeet Chinta and Chhanda, AstaGuru notes that at least four of these are unpublished. The auction also includes a 1883 quartzite stone sculptural work by Tagore. Titled 'The Heart', it is estimated to fetch Rs 55 to 70 lakh. A note by AstraGuru states that the sculpture was made by Tagore when he was in his 20s, during a visit to Karwar, Karnataka. It also mentions that the work is believed to have been dedicated to Kadambari Devi, his sister-in-law. Engraved by Tagore on it are the words: 'Having cut my heart of stone, I have engraved (the words) with my own hand. Will it (the writing) be ever effaced by the flow of tears?' The other highlights of the auction include a MF Husain canvas from the 'Mother Teresa' series (estimated at Rs 2-3 crore), A Ramachandran's Visions of Ramdev – Ahalya in Red (estimated Rs 1.2-1.6 crore), and a Nandalal Bose landscape in watercolour and ink (estimated Rs 25-35 lakh).
Time of India
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Rabindranath Tagore's handwritten letters to be auctioned next week
Kolkata: A set of 35 handwritten letters of Rabindranath Tagore along with 14 envelopes will go under the hammer next week for an estimated price of '5-7 crore - the biggest auction of the works of the Bengali polymath in terms of price and scale. A heart-shaped sculpture, the only known sculptural piece attributed to Tagore, will also be sold for an estimated price of '55-70 lakh. AstaGuru Auction House will hold the online auction on June 26-27. The rarity and the historical significance of these works by the first non-European to win the Nobel Prize in literature make this event special. The auction is expected to generate interest and enthusiasm among art and literature lovers, scholars and institutions. "This auction presents collectors and institutions with access to two exceptional works that provide unique insight into Rabindranath Tagore's creative evolution, across literature, visual art and even sculpture," Astaguru chief marketing officer Manoj Mansukhani told ET. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Revitalize seu corpo e recupere sua potência, virou febre entre os homens Baixa na libido Saiba Mais Undo The letters, written between 1927 and 1936, detail Tagore's engaging correspondence with the sociologist, musicologist and his confidante, Dhurjati Prasad Mukherji. Each letter bears the weight of a distinct moment, and 12 are written on different letterheads - from Visva-Bharati, his Uttarayan residence, Glen Eden in Darjeeling and aboard his houseboat, Padma - tracing Tagore's intellectual and geographic journey, AstaGuru said in a catalogue. Live Events "Tagore's letters to Mukherji have pivotal historic value and are important documents for understanding his literary mastery as well as his reflection on his own music," Abhra Ghosh, a prominent Tagore researcher, told ET. Though deeply personal in tone, several of these letters are preserved through a string of publications in journals such as Parichay and books like Chhanda, Sahityer Pathe, Sur O Sangati and Sangit Chinta. "These letters should be in the possession of Rabindra Bhavana of Santiniketan which preserves Tagore's manuscripts, correspondences, paintings and sketches, other than his personal belongings. I would urge the auction house or the collector of these important documents to think to this end," Ghosh said. In some of these letters, one would find Tagore's criticism of Bengal's rigidity as he argues that real creativity comes from adaptation. Just as Bengali literature flourished by moving beyond Sanskrit, he expressed hope that Bengali music too could grow independently but he stressed on the need for disciplined creation rooted in deep inner realisation, drawing on the classical rigor of dhrupad or Hindustani music.
Indian Express
22-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Giacometti bust goes unsold: How do art auctions work?
Expected to be the highlight of Sotheby's sale in New York, Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti's 1955 bust Grande tête mince (Grande tête de Diego) failed to find a buyer last week. One prominent reason for this failure was likely the bronze head's estimate — a whopping $70 million. In contrast to the 2015 auction record of $141.3 million for Giacometti's 1947 sculpture Pointing Man, the $70 million figure proved too intimidating. The auction market disappointment came mere days after a $30 million Andy Warhol painting was withdrawn from a Christie's sale when the consignor, who had put the work on auction, arguably realised it might not meet its asking price. These setbacks are seen as a sign of a struggling market, one that may require a reassessment of pricing expectations and collector sentiment. What are auction houses? An auction house essentially serves as an intermediary between sellers and buyers, receiving commissions from both. They may task a team to source and screen artworks based on market demand. 'Every auction is curated based on the different arts we want to feature, modern or contemporary,' Manoj Mansukhani, Chief Marketing Officer, AstaGuru Auction House, told The Indian Express. 'We need to create a mix that appeals to both seasoned collectors and new buyers. A few months are also dedicated to prepare the catalogue.' When is an artwork put up for auction? 'Historically, the primary reasons that prompt individuals to consign artworks to auction are the three D's: debt, death, and divorce', according to the Sotheby's Institute of Art. 'However, other factors such as a shift in personal taste or the need to downsize may also influence the decision to sell.' An auction house may be alerted about the existence of a rare or high-value artwork and subsequently collaborate with the owner to facilitate its sale. Christie's, for instance, remained in touch with Oslo University Hospital for over 13 years before it put MF Husain's 1954 canvas Untitled (Gram Yatra) on sale at an auction in New York in March 2025. This evocative homage to rural and pastoral life in India achieved a remarkable $13.7 million (approximately ₹118 crore), setting a new benchmark as the most expensive work of Indian art ever sold at an auction. How is the value of an artwork determined? The value of an artwork is estimated once it is verified and its provenance and authenticity are checked. Before a lot (comprising an item or a collection of items) is put up for auction, it is assigned a low and high estimate, providing a range of the expected value it could achieve. The auction catalogues reflect these estimates alongside the details of the artwork. The lower estimate typically serves as the reserve price, the minimum a seller will accept for the artwork, and below which a sale will not be made. The Husain mural sold at nearly four times its higher estimate of $3.5 million. The signature on the artwork and its provenance traced from the artist's studio onwards play a significant role in its valuation. Where it was exhibited and published are also factors taken into account. Similarly, its past or present ownership may also elevate the value. In 2016, Greek Landscape by the 'Grammarian of Art', Akbar Padamsee fetched Rs 19.9 crore at a Saffronart sale in Delhi, then a record price for the modernist. The piece was owned by Krishen Khanna, Padamsee's fellow artist and close friend, who had purchased it from artist-collector Bal Chhabda (also their close friend) over five decades back for Rs 1,000. After Saffronart sold Amrita Sher-Gil's canvas The Story Teller for Rs 61.8 crore in 2023 – then a record high price for Indian art – Dinesh Vazirani, co-founder of Saffronart told The Indian Express, 'The importance of the work in the oeuvre of the artist also plays a significant role. So, an MF Husain (who was very prolific) from the 1950s and 1960s compared to a later Husain will have a completely different (higher) value, and it will be the same for an SH Raza from the 1980s, a VS Gaitonde from the 1970s and 1980s, and a Tyeb Mehta from the 1990s (the periods during which each of these masters produced their most critically acclaimed works).' It is largely believed that the best works of Indian modernists are perhaps already with serious collectors and therefore rarely come under the auction hammer. When they do, they grab instant attention and escalating bids. In addition, some artists were less prolific than others, leading to even fewer of their works in the market. Sher-Gil, for instance, is known to have produced fewer than 200 paintings, of which a large number are with the National Gallery of Modern Art, and some are with her estate. This leaves approximately only 30-40 of her works with private collectors. How a work has been preserved or if there has been heavy restoration are considerations. Additionally, some media are traditionally more commercially favoured than others. For instance, canvases by the same artist are likely to be priced higher than drawings. A particular artwork might be distinctive in an artist's oeuvre. For instance, in the 1960s, VS Gaitonde had already started moving towards abstraction, inspired by Zen philosophy and spiritual teachings. His 1961 untitled oil with layers of pigment in tones of blue belonged to the same genre, but was cited as one of his last few horizontal canvases. When it came up for auction at a Saffronart sale in 2021, it fetched Rs 39.98 crore — a record for the highest price achieved for a work of Indian art in an auction at the time. Along with the historical sale price of similar works, the current market demand for the artist's work is also used to calculate the auction estimate. If there are no bids for a lot, or if the bidding does not reach the reserve price, the lot is bought in, meaning it remains unsold. Unsold artworks are usually returned to the consignor, who could ask the auction house to offer the artwork for auction again. This may be done after a delay, since the unsold work is considered burned, making it more difficult to find a buyer immediately at a similar price. A different scenario emerges if the artwork has a guarantee, done to ensure that it secures a pre-decided minimum price on its sale. This is practised occasionally for high-value or significant works that come up for auction. A guarantee may be offered by the auction house itself, in what is called a house guarantee. Alternately, it may be provided through an external undertaking, through a collector, gallery, or art dealer known as a third-party guarantee. The Giacometti sculpture, put on sale from the estate of real estate magnate Sheldon H Solow, who died in 2020, came to the auction without a minimum guarantee.
