Important Notice

A towering figure in the world of modern Indian art, N S Bendre closely followed Western art movements, and experimented with a variety of styles ranging from Expressionism and abstraction to Pointillism in later years. Over decades, he incorporated and adapted these influences into his own style rooted in Indian formalism, and his choice of subject matter - classically Indian themes such as birds and animals, figures in village settings, and... A towering figure in the world of modern Indian art, N S Bendre closely followed Western art movements, and experimented with a variety of styles ranging from Expressionism and abstraction to Pointillism in later years. Over decades, he incorporated and adapted these influences into his own style rooted in Indian formalism, and his choice of subject matter - classically Indian themes such as birds and animals, figures in village settings, and quintessentially Indian landscapes. Bendre has said that, "Indian art is very tolerant. It has accepted a number of influences from outside, digested them and created its own art forms... The respect for the flat area on which to paint, the use of conceptual images understandable to the people at large, based on observation and memory, have been characteristic of Indian art. The colour orchestration that can have its impact on the Indian mind, dedication and devotion to the subject matter including geometrical forms working as magic, the resulting quality of peace of mind and serenity all this is Indian." (N S Bendre, My Painting, Ram Chatterji, Bendre: The Painter and the Person, Mumbai: The Bendre Foundation for Art and Culture & Indus Corporation, 1990, p. 63)

Bendre first began experimenting with Pointillism after retiring from his post as the dean of M S University, Baroda. The present lot is a fine example of his Pointillist phase, created at a time when he had achieved mastery over his style. In the foreground of this detailed scene, the artist depicts people in colourful traditional dress going about their work, set against a domed skyline and a vibrant, fiery sunset. According to Ram Chatterji, in the latter half of his career, Bendre "concentrates on the depiction of joy, the charm that the world has to offer to anyone who cares to see it. He uses familiar forms... he conveys the effect of distance with gradual elimination of details. He gives prime importance to his visual experience, but he does not resort to naturalistic representation. He interprets it on his canvas in his own terms and offers what he has seen and enjoyed." (Bendre the Painter of Joy, Chatterji, p. 61)

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