Indian Art Milestone: MF Husain’s Painting Achieves ₹118 Crore at Auction
Indian Art Milestone: MF Husain’s Painting Achieves ₹118 Crore at Auction
The Indian art world witnessed a historic moment when MF Husain’s painting “Untitled (Gram Yatra)” sold for an incredible $13.8 million (over ₹118 crore) at a Christie’s auction in New York on March 19. This 1954 artwork, which portrays rural Indian life, set a new record for modern Indian art, surpassing the previous highest sale of Amrita Sher-Gil’s “The Story Teller.”
The auction result was a huge surprise, as Christie’s had originally estimated the painting’s value between $2.5 million and $3.5 million. However, the final sale price was more than four times the initial estimate, proving the growing global interest in Indian art. This also broke Husain’s previous record of $3.1 million, set in 2023 for his painting “Untitled (Reincarnation).”
About the Painting
“Untitled (Gram Yatra)” is one of Husain’s most important works from the 1950s. It is a massive piece, nearly 14 feet long, made up of 13 panels, each showing a different aspect of village life. The name, which means “village pilgrimage”, reflects how rural life shaped India’s future after independence.
One panel features a standing farmer, the only male figure in the painting, which is believed to be a self-portrait of Husain. Interestingly, this is the only figure that overlaps into another scene, showing a landscape with fields.
The Painting’s Journey
The painting was originally owned by Dr. Leon Elias Volodarsky, a Norwegian surgeon who bought it in New Delhi in 1954 while working on a World Health Organization (WHO) project. In 1964, his estate donated it to the Oslo University Hospital, where it remained hidden from the public for nearly 70 years.
“It was stored in a private neuroscience corridor,” said Nishad Avari, head of Christie’s South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art, in an interview with ARTnews.
The process of bringing the painting to auction took 13 years. Since it was owned by Oslo University Hospital, the sale required the hospital board’s approval and several legal permissions before it could be auctioned.
“What makes this sale even more special is that the funds will be used to create a training center for doctors in Dr. Volodarsky’s honor,” Avari added.
MF Husain’s Legacy
MF Husain was born on September 17, 1915, in Pandharpur, Maharashtra. He began his artistic journey in Mumbai, first working as a billboard painter.
After India gained independence, Husain’s work reflected the nation’s transformation. His paintings were inspired by Indian history, mythology, and culture, often featuring gods and goddesses. However, some of his works sparked controversy, leading to legal cases and threats against him. Due to this, he left India and spent much of his later life in Dubai, New York, and London.
Husain passed away on June 9, 2011, at the age of 95. His legacy lives on, and his record-breaking auction proves that his work continues to inspire and captivate art lovers worldwide.
