PIRAJI SAGARA | Untitled (Cityscape)

Acquired from Satyan Art Gallery, Baroda, 9 June 2008

Craquelure is visible in areas of thicker paint application. Losses and small accretions are also present in a few areas. There are nails apparent around the edges of the work. This work has recently been consolidated by a professional restorer. The work is in good overall condition for its age. UV LIGHT: Scattered retouching to the upper and lower edges of the painting with a further spot on the middle right and diagonal lines in the lower left quadrant.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Piraji Sagara trained at the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay, and taught at the School of Architecture in Ahmedabad. He went on to participate in the Sao Paulo Biennale in Brazil in 1971. Piraji came from the Sagara community who arrived in Ahmedabad from Rajasthan at the start of the twentieth century and were known for their skill in cutting and shaping objects out of wood. The artist's initial experiments with ornamental scrap, metal and wood resulted in the development of his distinctive ‘wood collages’. These works raised the craft traditions of his ancestors to the level of high art. The current lot depicts a riverside cityscape. The geometric forms of the houses are painted in blues, greens and greys, and outlined by – and indeed contrasted with – bright red borders. This vibrant red is echoed in the bright sun. The work is also marked by its rich texture, a trademark of Sagara.