A record for Ganesh Pyne & a boost for Bengal art

Kolkata modernist Ganesh Pyne’s The Fisherman (1979), recently fetched £3.832 million (approximately `44 crore) at an auction in London. The auction price was more than 10 times the upper estimate for the tempera on canvas, and set a new auction record for the artist.

It eclipsed Pyne’s previous record by over 100%, reaffirming his status as one of India’s most sought-after modern masters.The auction, Sublime Shadows: South Asian Art from a Distinguished Collection, featured the celebrated Goodricke (Camellia) Collection and featured 93 lots. All the lots found buyers and realised £18.91 million (around `237 crore), making it the highest-value South Asian modern and contemporary art sale ever held by Christie’s in London.

The auction also established 17 new world records, underscoring the growing global appetite for South Asian art.Other standout artists in the collection included Abanindranath Tagore, Meera Mukherjee and KK Hebbar – all of whom achieved new auction highs. The landmark sale marks a defining moment for Indian art on the global stage, signalling sustained international demand for museum-quality works from the region.

Artist Narayan Chandra Sinha revealed that he grew up admiring Pyne’s works. “People speak of Salvador Dalí and surrealism, but for me, it was always Pyne’s surrealism that resonated because of the elements and emotions it captured. It’s great that we’ve begun to take pride in what is local, and that’s leading to growing appreciation for artists like Pyne.”Speaking to us about the landmark auction, Smita Bajoria of Ganges Art Gallery appreciated Goodricke for supporting local artists and building an impressive collection.

“Most importantly, the works were acquired at the right time, when many of these artists were in their prime. As a result, the collection is both vibrant and historically significant,” she said, adding, “Bengal art has witnessed something of a renaissance, and Ganesh Pyne was an extraordinary artist.

Though recognition for his work came gradually, his art is now receiving the appreciation it deserves and its value is likely to continue rising.”Indian art is going through a boom. And Bengal art, which has always been sought after, is seeing a fresh wave of interest, especially in the works of Ganesh Pyne– Smita BajoriaToday, India has found a voice of its own and a distinct individuality. We’ve begun to take pride in what is local, and that is being reflected in the growing appreciation for artists like Pyne– Narayan Chandra Sinha, artist