SANKHO CHAUDHURI | Untitled (Bird Form)

Acquired from Gallery Espace, New Delhi 

There is light surface wear and scattered minor losses to the gilding, notably along the edges. A small spot of white paint accretion is visible at the back of a wing. This work is in good overall condition, as viewed.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The modernist forms of Sankho Chaudhuri are distinguished by their elegance and simplicity. The artist succeeds in capturing the essence of his subjects in just a few fluid contours. Chaudhuri completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, where he was a student of Ramkinkar Baij. Both sculptors diverged from the naturalistic tendencies of the Bengal School and the academic style of sculpture which was championed by art schools established under colonial rule. Chaudhuri instead took inspiration from the semi-abstracted works of Henry Moore and Constantin Brancusi, who shifted the focus of sculpture from surface detail to materiality. Chaudhuri was later appointed Head of the Department of Sculpture at the newly-founded Faculty of Fine Arts at M.S. University, Baroda, and subsequently became Dean of the school. During his time in Baroda, Chaudhuri worked alongside his contemporaries Narayan Shridhar Bendre, K.G. Subramanyan and Jeram Patel to improve the resources and quality of instruction at the Faculty of Fine Arts, installing an oven for firing ceramics, and building the foundations for a library of internationally-sourced art books.

The present work in bronze takes the form of a bird, distilling the essential shapes of beak, wings and plumage into one gracefully folded, yet unadorned work of art.