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Lot 67

 

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a) Ray Monk and Andrew Robinson, Rabindranath Tagore - A Celebration of his Life and Work, Rabindranath Tagore Festival Committee, 1986

80 pages; paperback in colour printed stiff card covers
10.75 x 8.25 in (27.5 x 21 cm)

Published as part of the Rabindranath Tagore Festival celebrations at Museum of Modern Art at Oxford, this volume pays tribute to the life and work of the iconic poet, philosopher, and polymath Rabindranath Tagore. The book brings together an assortment of essays, reflections, and visual reproductions celebrating his literary achievements, artistic contributions, and enduring cultural impact. It was created to commemorate Tagore’s contributions to literature, music, and the arts, marking the centenary of his Nobel Prize in 1913.

The publication includes an introduction to Tagore’s philosophical, literary, and artistic vision. A collection of essays and reflections on his poetry, music, painting, and educational philosophy. Illustrations of Tagore’s artworks and photographs from the festival events. A brief overview of Tagore’s influence on modern Indian and global art. A celebration of the Rabindra Sangeet (Tagore’s music) and its continued relevance

This volume is an important resource for those studying Tagore’s multidisciplinary genius, encompassing his literary and artistic legacy.

b) Shiv S Kapur, Husain, New Delhi: Lalit Kala Akademi, 1961

8-page essay by Shiv S Kapur and 23 illustrations, some in colour, biographical notes; stiff cards with dustjacket
7 x 5 in (18 x 12.5 cm)

This early monograph on M F Husain, one of India’s most celebrated modern artists, is authored by art critic and historian Shiv SKapur. The book offers a brief but insightful 8-page essay on Husain’s life, philosophy, and artistic journey, providing valuable context to his figurative works and Indian modernism during the 1950s and 1960s.

c) Geeta Kapur, Contemporary Indian Artists, New Delhi: Vikas Publishing House, 1978

pp. xxii, 225 pages with bibliography and index; hardbound with dust jacket
9 x 5.75 in (23 x 14.5 cm)

A landmark publication by noted art critic and historian Geeta Kapur, Contemporary Indian Artists is among the earliest substantial critical studies on post-Independence Indian modernism. The book presents in-depth essays on eight seminal artists who shaped the trajectory of modern Indian art in the 20th century namely Francis Newton Souza - 'Devil in the Flesh'. Ram Kumar - 'City-Exile'. Akbar Padamsee - 'The Other Side if Solitude'. Maqbool Fida Husain - 'Folklore and Fiesta'. Bhupen Khakhar - 'View From the Teashop' and Jagdish Swaminathan - 'Wings of a Metaphor'.

Each chapter is based on extensive interviews and studio visits, combining biographical insight with critical analysis of form, theme, and sociopolitical context. Kapur's writing here laid the foundation for a distinctly Indian art-critical voice, deeply informed by both Marxist theory and postcolonial discourse.

Full-page reproductions of key works. Archival photographs. A critical introduction on Indian modernism. Now out of print and highly sought after, this volume is a foundational text in South Asian art history and remains essential reading for collectors, curators, and researchers.

d) Shamlal, Padamsee, Bombay: Sadanga Publications, 1964

44 pages, including a six page essay plus 20 black and white plates, 9 tipped-in colour plates; hardbound with dust jacket
9.5 x 8.75 in (24 x 22 cm)

This early and now scarce monograph on Akbar Padamsee, authored by writer and editor Shamlal, was published by Sadanga Publications as part of a pioneering series on Indian modernist painters. It offers a focused study of Padamsee’s evolving artistic vocabulary during the formative decades of his career.

The book includes an essay by Shamlal analysing Padamsee’s visual language, philosophical concerns, and formal strategies. A selection of black-and-white reproductions of paintings and drawings. A portrait photograph of the artist. Biographical chronology and exhibition history

Published in 1964, it provides a valuable snapshot of Padamsee’s practice just as he was beginning to transition from his early figurative work into the realms of abstraction and metaphysical landscapes. An important early reference work on Akbar Padamsee, produced well before the later retrospectives and institutional monographs.

e) H A Gade - Founder Member : Progressive Artists Group, New Delhi: Dhoomimal Gallery, 2014

unpaginated; softbound
11.75 x 8.25 in (30 x 21 cm)

(Set of five)