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Biren De — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
08 Oct 1926
Zodiac sign
Libra
Date of Death
12 Mar 2011
Age
84
Place of Birth
Faridpur, Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh
State Country of Birth
Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh

Exhibitions

  1. 1949

    1. Darjeeling, West Bengal, India
  2. 1951

    1. Salon de Mai, Paris, France, India
    2. Salon de Mai, Paris, France, India
  3. 1952

    1. Freemason's Hall, New Delhi, India
    2. 18 Jan 1952 to 22 Jan 1952

  4. 1953

    1. National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
    2. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    3. Sixty-third Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
    4. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
  5. 1954

    1. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    2. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
  6. 1955

    1. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
  7. 1956

    1. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
  8. 1957

    1. Young Asian Artists, Japan
    2. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
  9. 1959

    1. Mainichi International Biennale, Tokyo, Japan
    2. Twenty Painters Show, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    3. Contemporary Art from India, Museum Folkwang Essen Stadtische Kunsthalle, Recklinghausen, Germany
    4. Museum am Ostwall, Dortmund and Galerie Palette, Zurich, Switzerland
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De, Biren (Artist). Exhibition of Paintings by Biren De, 1952 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882212
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De, Biren (Artist). Exhibition of Paintings by Biren De, 1952 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882212

Chronicled Highlights 181956 – 2009

Biren De was born in 1926 in Faridpur, Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh.

1956
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Contemporary Indian Paintings: From The Chester and Davida Herwitz Charitable TrustNew York · 12 June 1995

In 1995, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Woman with a Vase (1956), offered in the Contemporary Indian Paintings: From The Chester and Davida Herwitz Charitable Trust by Sotheby's, which concluded on 12 June 1995 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹1,98,637 ($6,325). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Woman with a Vase, 1956 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,98,637
27% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 94,215 – 1,57,025
Rate per sq in
INR 196
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
38.3 × 26.5 in (97 × 67 cm)
Lot
33 · So.NeY/12.06.95
Provenance
Chester & Davida Herwitz Collection, USA
1956
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary ArtMumbai · 02 December 2005

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Mother (1956), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 02 December 2005 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹25,30,000 ($54,856.9). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Mother, 1956 | Painting
Selling price
INR25,30,000
69% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 12,00,000 – 15,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,491
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
30.1 × 24.1 in (76 × 61 cm)
Lot
20 · Os.Mum/02.12.05
1957
Public Auction HighPainting
HEART · Intuitive-Logic - The Next Step: Auctions of Indian Art - Classical, Folk, Tribal, Modern & Contemporary TraditionsNew Delhi · 28 November 1999

In 1999, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Widows (1957), offered in the Intuitive-Logic - The Next Step: Auctions of Indian Art - Classical, Folk, Tribal, Modern & Contemporary Traditions by HEART, which concluded on 28 November 1999 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹5,04,000 ($11,613). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Widows, 1957 | Painting
Selling price
INR5,04,000
1% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 5,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 458
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
26.4 × 41.7 in (67 × 106 cm)
Lot
198 · He.Del/28.11.99
1963
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Forty Masterpieces Museum Quality Series VIIMumbai · 09 September 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1963), offered in the Forty Masterpieces Museum Quality Series VII by Osian's, which concluded on 09 September 2006 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹30,00,000 ($64,837). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Untitled, 1963 | Painting
Selling price
INR30,00,000
20% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 20,00,000 – 25,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,519
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
23.8 × 35.8 in (61 × 91 cm)
Lot
25 · Os.Mum/09.09.06
1967
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Indian Modern & Contemporary ArtNew Delhi · 18 March 2008

In 2008, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of The Movement (1967), offered in the Indian Modern & Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 18 March 2008 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹48,00,000 ($118,168). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). The Movement, 1967 | Painting
Selling price
INR48,00,000
2300% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,20,000 – 2,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,156
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
53 × 42 in (135 × 107 cm)
Lot
64 · Os.Del/18.03.08
1970
Literary ReferencePainting
Saffronart · Spring Online Auction: Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art and AntiquitiesOnline · 07 April 2022

I am not a cult painter and my work is not the result of any esoteric practice. But if you agree that the essential objective of Tantra is the discovery of the nature of thing, of self-realisation, then I am a tantric and so are you, and anybody.

De, Biren (Artist). Untitled, 1970 | Painting
Selling price
INR22,50,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 18,75,000 – 26,25,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,069
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
55.1 × 38.2 in (140 × 97 cm)
Lot
87 · Sa.Onl/07.04.22
1972
Public Auction HighPainting
Asta Guru · Masters LegacyMumbai · 28 April 2024

In 2024, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1972), offered in the Masters Legacy by Asta Guru, which concluded on 28 April 2024 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,02,84,974 ($125,426). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Untitled, 1972 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,02,84,974
414% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 5,830
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
42 × 42 in (107 × 107 cm)
Lot
32 · AG.Mum/28.04.24
Provenance
Property from an important collection based in Mumbai.
1973
Public Auction HighPainting
Bonhams · Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art & Art of PakistanLondon · 24 October 2018

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of September '73 (1973), offered in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art & Art of Pakistan by Bonhams, which concluded on 24 October 2018 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹57,03,174 ($70,652). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). September '73, 1973 | Painting
Selling price
INR57,03,174
140% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 17,10,952 – 23,76,323
Rate per sq in
INR 2,804
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
50.4 × 40.4 in (128 × 103 cm)
Lot
25 · Bon.Lon/24.10.18
1974
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including 20th Century Indian PaintingsNew York · 23 September 2004

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of April '74 (1974), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including 20th Century Indian Paintings by Christie's, which concluded on 23 September 2004 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹8,78,373 ($19,120). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). April '74, 1974 | Painting
Selling price
INR8,78,373
139% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 2,75,640 – 3,67,520
Rate per sq in
INR 394
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
55.5 × 40.2 in (141 × 102 cm)
Lot
244 · Ch.NeY/23.09.04
1983
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · Modern and Contemporary Indian ArtNew York · 20 September 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1983), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 20 September 2006 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹38,68,200 ($84,000). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). Untitled, 1983 | Painting
Selling price
INR38,68,200
320% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 6,90,750 – 9,21,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,370
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
48 × 34 in (122 × 86 cm)
Lot
89 · Ch.NeY/20.09.06
1985
Literary ReferenceDrawing
Osian's · India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and BooksMumbai · 24 February 2001

It can now be said without qualification that he (Biren De) is one of our most significant painters… Every enterprise is well-planned though I must confess that his sketches for composition, which he executes in pastels, are sometimes more subtle in effect than the expanded painting in oils…

De, Biren (Artist). Sketchbook, mid 1980s | Drawing
Selling price
INR60,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 782
Medium
Various media
Dimensions
7.1 × 10.8 in (18 × 28 cm)
Lot
162 · Os.Mum/24.02.01
1988
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Indian Contemporary Art: Paintings, Drawings & SculptureMumbai · 09 February 2005

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of August' 88 (1988), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art: Paintings, Drawings & Sculpture by Osian's, which concluded on 09 February 2005 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹14,95,000 ($34,258). This record marked a defining moment in the artist's market history, reflecting both the significance of the artwork and its reception within the broader art world.

De, Biren (Artist). August' 88, 1988 | Painting
Selling price
INR14,95,000
50% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 8,00,000 – 10,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,045
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
45.5 × 31.5 in (116 × 80 cm)
Lot
9 · Os.Mum/09.02.05
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Economics of Art

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Research Centre

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