Lot 246
  • 246

Bikash Bhattacharjee (1940-2006)

Estimate
70,000 - 90,000 USD
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Description

  • Bikash Bhattacharjee
  • And the Twilight
  • Signed and dated 'Bikash '79' lower right and inscribed '"- AND THE TWILIGHT" / ARTIST:- BIKASH BHATTACHARJEE / ADDRESS:- 2D NABO KUMAR RAHA LANE, / CALCUTTA - 7000 004 / INDIA' on reverse
  • Oil on canvas
  • 41 by 47 in. (106 by 120.7 cm.)
  • Painted in 1979

Provenance

Osian’s, Mumbai, 19 January 2008, lot 134

Literature

M. Majumder, Close to Events, Works of Bikash Bhattacharjee, New Delhi, Niyogi Offset Pvt. Ltd., 2007, illustrated p. 166

K. Singh ed., Manifestations IX, 75 Artists: 20th Century Indian Art, New Delhi, Delhi Art Gallery, 2013, illustrated p. 112

Condition

This work is in good condition, as viewed. There is very slight craquelure present in the areas of thick paint. There are faint stretcher marks and associated loss around the edges as well as pinhole sized areas of loss above the woman's head and in the lower section of the canvas. The blues in the painting are brighter than they appear in the catalog illustration. Frame: Slight wear to the frame
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.

Catalogue Note

Bikash Bhattacharjee is generally recognised as one of  India's leading painters in the  Surrealist tradition. His talent lies in his ability to create hypnotic imagery by juxtaposing the real with the surreal. Since the 1960s, Bhattacharjee has made the lives of average middle-class Bengalis; their aspirations, superstitions, hypocrisy and corruption, and even the violence that is endemic to Calcutta, the main focus of his paintings. When speaking about his works, Bhattacharjee has said that they transcend reality and endeavour to make social statements in a direct manner. 'I see myself as a sort of painter journalist, using paint and canvas as a photo-journalist might use his camera. What I have to say is right there on the canvas.' (Indian Painting Today, Jehangir Art Gallery, Bombay, 1981, p.17)

The present work is part of an early series on Calcutta cityscapes. The city's facades appear repeatedly in his works as metaphors signifying urban decay. A gifted colourist, Bhattacharjee achieved mastery in capturing the quality of light, a time-honoured skill harkening back to the Dutch Old Masters like Rembrandt. The heightened tonal and textural effects in these works infuse them with realism and simultaneously capturing a mood of foreboding and alienation. The use of light and shadow creates a three-dimensional effect that seems to bring the scene to life, yet the presence of a single solitary woman creates a distance with the viewer and imparts a sombre tone to the painting.