Kisory Roy

Acquired in Mumbai, 2023

Kisory Roy studied under Jamini Prakash Gangooly, one of the foremost academic painters in early 20th-century India, and painted in a similar style throughout his accomplished career. Roy is best known for his landscapes, which were often painted en plein air, and the present lot is a magnificent example of one such work.

Untitled captures a sylvan scene – a lone figure, clothed only in a dhoti, has paused his walk along a rural footpath, perhaps to admire the dramatic sunset in the distance. To the right, a pack of dogs slowly trots past a pair of gently bowed trees. While Untitled is a realist work, Roy integrates scattered impasto and employs bold colors, such as the hints of rich blue in the rocks: these flourishes highlight his ability to challenge the conventions of academism.