MF Husain’s painting sets record, fetches over ₹118 crore at auction
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The mural-size painting spans almost 14 feet across 13 vignettes, each offering a glimpse into rural Indian life.
New Delhi: A painting by legendary artist MF Husain has set a new record for the most expensive modern Indian artwork ever sold. His masterpiece, 'Untitled (Gram Yatra)', a pivotal work from the 1950s, fetched USD 13.8 million (over Rs 118 crore) at a Christie's auction in New York on March 19. The sale nearly doubled the previous record of USD 7.4 million (Rs 61.8 crore) set by Amrita Sher-Gil's 1937 painting 'The Story Teller' in a Mumbai auction in 2023.
'Gram Yatra', which translates to ‘village pilgrimage,’ is a monumental work consisting of 13 unique panels spanning nearly 14 feet. It is widely considered a cornerstone of Husain’s artistic legacy, embodying the vibrancy and cultural dynamism of a newly independent India.
"We are thrilled to have been a part of setting a new benchmark value for the work of Maqbool Fida Husain and the entire category. This is a landmark moment and continues the extraordinary upward trajectory of the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art market," said Nishad Avari, head of Christie's South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, in a statement.
The painting, created in 1954, left India the same year and remained largely unseen for decades. It was acquired by Ukrainian-born, Norway-based doctor Leon Elias Volodarsky, who was in Delhi to establish a thoracic surgery training centre for the World Health Organization (WHO). In 1964, Volodarsky bequeathed the artwork to Oslo University Hospital, and the proceeds from its sale will now support the training of future doctors at the institution.
Before this, Husain’s most expensive painting was 'Untitled (Reincarnation)', which sold for USD 3.1 million (approximately Rs 25.7 crore) in London last year.
Born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra, MF Husain remains one of India’s most celebrated and influential artists, whose work continues to spark discussions worldwide. His deep engagement with history, mythology, and Indian culture is evident in his paintings, many of which depict gods and goddesses against the backdrop of contemporary political themes.
However, Husain's artistic interpretations also made him a target of controversy. Facing multiple FIRs and persistent death threats, he went into self-exile, residing in Dubai while frequently traveling to New York and London. He passed away on June 9, 2011, at the age of 95, leaving behind a vast and influential body of work that continues to shape modern Indian art.
With PTI inputs