Gazette Drouot - C apencheres

THE MAGAZINE UPCOMING AUCTIONS
38 GAZETTE DROUOT INTERNATIONAL I N° 19
Ram Kumar
an Indian in Paris
Together with Padamsee, Raza and
Hussain, Ram Kumar is one of the
pioneers of modern Indian painting.
A historical figure, he mixed with the
Montmartre painters between 1950 and
1955, particularly André Lhote and
Fernand Léger, with whom he studied.
Unlike his compatriot Raza, who
remained in the French capital, Ram
Kumar returned to New Delhi, where he
published several series of short stories.
This 1955 painting, "Mother and Son",
bears witness to the influence of these
masters, particularly evident here in the
simplification of forms and volumes. At
that period the artist was already developing
an interest in the face as a genuine
mirror of the human condition. The dark
palette uniting the subjects also fosters
the expression of a certain form of grief.
While infrequently-represented in the
French market, Ram Kumar's work has
considerable international standing. So,
the sale on 1st December at Saint
Raphael (Var Enchères auction house) of
this painting and another work by the
artist, "Couple", should cause quite a
stir…Both estimated at €40,000/60,000,
they carry the label of the famous Kunikz-
Chemould Gallery in New Delhi.