Amrita Sher-Gil, one of India's most revered artists, has etched her name in history as her masterpiece, "The Story Teller," achieved the distinction of becoming the most expensive work by an Indian artist ever sold. This remarkable feat unfolded at Saffronart's "Evening Sale: Modern Art" in New Delhi, where the painting commanded an astounding Rs 61.8 crore.
Created in 1937, Amrita Sher-Gil's oil on canvas, "The Story Teller," has eclipsed Sayed Haider Raza's "Gestation" to secure its place as the costliest Indian artwork ever auctioned globally.
The Hungarian-Indian painter, Sher-Gil, remains an icon of avant-garde artistry in the early 20th century. Her masterpiece, "The Story Teller," was one of the highlights among the 70-plus artworks by eminent artists, including MF Husain, VS Gaitonde, Jamini Roy, and FS Souza, featured in the auction.
Notably, "Gestation" by Raza, which fetched Rs 51.75 crore at Pundole’s auction house in Mumbai last month, now claims the position of the second most expensive Indian artwork ever sold.
Dinesh Vazirani, CEO and co-founder of Saffronart, expressed his delight in setting multiple artist records during the Evening Sale in New Delhi in a press statement. He remarked, "Most significantly, the record price achieved by Amrita Sher-Gil’s ‘The Story Teller’ is an important milestone in the Indian art market and a testament to the artist’s immense skill and enduring legacy as one of India’s art treasures," as per the press statement.
"The Story Teller," often considered one of Sher-Gil's most pivotal works, exemplifies the artist's unbridled and expressive compositions.
Sher-Gil's artistic themes predominantly revolved around women, as she found an intimate connection with their experiences. Among her other well-known portraits of women are "Three Girls," "Women on the Charpai," "Hill Women," and "Young Girls".
Born in Budapest to an Indian father and a Hungarian mother, Sher-Gil displayed a prodigious interest in painting and drawing from the tender age of five. In her early works, she brought to life the vibrant characters from Hungarian fairy tales using watercolors.
In 1921, the Sher-Gil family returned to India and settled in Shimla. Tragically, Amrita Sher-Gil passed away in 1941, at the young age of 28.
Her distinct painting style and meticulous sketches remain an important part of her enduring legacy, captivating generations of art lovers. The Archaeological Survey of India honoured her posthumously in 1976 as one of India's nine "National Art Treasure" artists.