The Momentous Metamorphosis Of Portraiture Art In 20th Century India

By the advent of the 20th century, Indian art had thrived through a flexuous trajectory to arrive at a distinctive identity of its own. The artists of the time started to shed the last vestiges of European academic naturalism and had instead realised the essence of connecting to one’s cultural roots. Consequently, a great change was effected in the art of portraiture, which had been a predominant style. The artists of a new era in India’s history moved away from the western ideals of the traditional portrait, executed with extraordinary realism, and the conventional European medium of oil paint. They abandoned the obsessive quest for perfection and began experimenting not only with mediums but also with imagery and form. The liberation from British rule in 1947, coinciding with the founding of the Progressive Artists’ Group, ushered in a new zest. Revolutionary movements in several parts of the country championed an atypical and unorthodox artistic expression. The meaning of portraiture transcended and forever continued to be reinvented through the canvases of artists from every generation.

Here are some works from AstaGuru’s upcoming Modern Indian Art ‘Collectors Choice’ auction, which perfectly chronicles the momentous metamorphosis of portraiture art in 20th century India.

Lot 14: Untitled work by M.V. Dhurandhar

This work comes from the oeuvre of the celebrated old master of Indian art, M.V. Dhurandhar. Executed with watercolour on paper circa 1930, it is a monochromatic portrait of a woman.

An iconic pupil of Sir J.J. School of Art in Bombay, M V Dhurandhar perfectly amalgamated the western academic realism idiom with Indian tradition. Born in 1867 in Kolhapur, Dhurandhar became inclined towards art while still at school and joined the art school in 1890.

Dhurandhar's talent was immediately recognised by the school’s principal, John Griffiths, who also picked Dhurandhar as a member of a project to capture the panoramic views of the Ajanta Caves. While still a student, Dhurandhar was conferred with the British Government Award in 1892, for a painting titled ‘Women At Work.’ M. V. Dhurandhar was also highly influenced by the works of legendary old master Raja Ravi Varma.

Lot 17: Portraits by Walter Langhammer

In a set of two individual portraits, artist Walter Langhammer immortalises his two close friends. Titled ‘Portrait of Bill Brett,’ and ‘Portrait of Edith Brett', the set of two works is executed with oil on canvas.

Walter Langhammer is considered to be one of the forces behind the making of the Bombay based Progressive Artists’ Group. An accomplished artist himself, he reached India in 1938 to avoid the Nazi persecution in Austria during the Second World War. In India, he started working as the first art director for the national daily ‘Times of India.’ Soon thereafter, he was recognised as a key personality in the Indian art scene and started mentoring young artists. As an artist, Langhammer travelled extensively throughout India and captured the rustic countryside rendered in brilliant colours. He exhibited frequently at the Bombay Art Society.

Lot 20 ‘Maharaja Ranjit Singh’ by B.C. Sanyal

Artist B.C. Sanyal paints a portrait in an ode to Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the first ruler of the Sikh Empire whose bravery and courage earned the title of "Sher-e-Punjab" or "The Lion of Punjab.’ He rose to power at the age of 21 and ruled the northwest Indian subcontinent in the early half of the 19th century. The artist has brilliantly captured the king’s left eye, which suffered a complete loss of sight after a bout of smallpox in his infancy.

B.C.Sanyal was born on April 22, 1901, in Assam. A painter, sculptor, and teacher, his desire to impart knowledge placed him at the forefront of art discourse in independent India. Sanyal often used primary, fresh, and vibrant colours to portray the struggles of everyday human life. He was also greatly inspired by his mother.

He studied first at the Government College of Art & Craft in Calcutta, and then at the Serampore College of Art, where he became a teacher between 1920-1926. He spent time in Lahore in the 1930s-40s and set up the renowned Lahore College of Art, which became a hub for established and emerging artists at the time. Back in Delhi, he founded the Delhi Shilpi Chakra in 1949.

Lot 36 Untitled work by Satish Sinha

This work is a unique example from the oeuvre of artist Satish Chandra Sinha, who is known to have been more inclined towards realism and perspective akin to the ideals of European naturalism. The rural woman depicted in this Pastel on paperwork is reminiscent of a Santhali woman, a theme that was widespread among the followers of the Bengal School of Art.

Satish Chandra Sinha was born in Calcutta in 1893 and studied under Percy Brown and J.P. Gangooly at the Government College of Art, of which he later became principal. Sinha followed the Western academic approach to art, emphasising perspective and realism in his work. His work differed from the prevailing trends of the Bengal School and, along with Atul Bose, adhered to the more traditional forms of painting, often depicting the female figure. Inspired by the works of Raja Ravi Varma, Sinha's strength lay in the rendering of the female figure.

Lot 42 Untitled work by Ganesh Pyne

Created during a mature phase of his career, the portrait work depicts an Indian lady in a gold-bordered saree. Executed with Pastel and paper in the year 2000, this work by Ganesh Pyne is appearing in an auction for the first time.

A highly skilled painter and draughtsman, Ganesh Pyne was born in Kolkata in 1937 during the tempestuous time preceding India’s independence and partition. His early inspirations came from Bengal folklore. A brush with violence in his childhood and bearing witness to mayhem and death also had a huge impact on him. ‘I was shaken by the sight,’ he recalled. ‘Since then, I have been obsessed with the dark world,’ recalled the artist once. The combination of these influences resulted in the artist developing a truly unique expression.

Several other extraordinary renditions of portraits by artists including V.S. Gaitonde, M.F. Husain, K.H. Ara, Krishen Khanna, and Jogen Chowdhury will be showcased in the upcoming auction.

This Collectors’ Choice Auction, scheduled on June 23 - 24, 2022, presents a splendid opportunity for both seasoned and budding collectors to build a stunning collection. Bidding for all artworks in this auction will commence at Rs 20,000.

Please visit the AstaGuru website to browse the auction catalogue and register to bid today.