Devayani Krishna | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

Introduction

Date of Birth: 08 Jul 1918
Zodiac sign: Cancer
Date of Death: 05 Sep 2002
Age: 84
Place of Birth: Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India
State Country of Birth: Madhya Pradesh, India

Chronicled Highlights 71950 – 2002

Devayani Krishna was born in 1918 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India.

1950

Literary ReferencePainting

Saffronart · Winter Online AuctionOnline · 14 December 2023

It is difficult to describe the power of [Devayani Krishna’s] drawings. It is as though a great choreographer compressed the total movement of the dance, such as the dance of Shiva, into a single ideograph.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). The White Lion of the Snow, 1950 | Painting

Selling price

INR8,46,600

410% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 1,24,500 – 1,66,000

Rate per sq in

INR 1,415

Medium

Gouache on paper pasted on board

Dimensions

20.7 × 28.9 in (53 × 74 cm)

Lot

140 · Sa.Onl/14.12.23

Provenance

Property from the Jane and Kito de Boer Collection

1960

Public Auction HighPainting

Saffronart · Winter Online AuctionOnline · 14 December 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1960), offered in the Winter Online Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 14 December 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹37,84,800 ($45,600). 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.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled, 1960 | Painting

Selling price

INR37,84,800

660% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 3,32,000 – 4,98,000

Rate per sq in

INR 676

Medium

Conte and charcoal on paper

Dimensions

59.3 × 94.5 in (151 × 240 cm)

Lot

141 · Sa.Onl/14.12.23

Provenance

Property from the Jane and Kito de Boer Collection

Research Categories

02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts

1960

Literary ReferenceDrawing

Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002

I was angry with Kan (Kanwal Krishna, her husband), who was in a phase of transition, formulating ideas and techniques after his travels in Europe. For not communicating what I sought to learn. And lines were the most direct way of expressing my feelings swiftly through three big drawings. The beginnings of such forms with the same idea of transparency. The series emerged as ‘The effect of the moon on the mind and the brain’, which may be sourced to the words of a saint that I had once heard. The drawings were so large that I achieved the sweeping circular strokes by stretching the arm that held the crayon and rotating my entire body while sitting on the drawing.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Effect Of The Moon On The Mind & The Brain, 1960 | Drawing

Selling price

INR4,95,000

Below low estimate

Estimate

INR 5,00,000 – 6,00,000

Rate per sq in

INR 83.81

Medium

Charcoal and Conte on paper

Dimensions

61 × 96.9 in (155 × 246 cm)

Lot

83 · Os.Mum/05.12.02

1961

Public Auction HighPainting

Sotheby's · The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute RettbergLondon · 31 May 2022

In 2022, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Townscape) (1961), offered in the The Surya Collection: Property from Mrs. Ute Rettberg by Sotheby's, which concluded on 31 May 2022 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹14,79,758.11 ($19,053.31). 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.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Untitled (Townscape), c. early 1960s | Painting

Selling price

INR14,79,758

116% above high estimate

Estimate

INR 4,89,338 – 6,85,073

Rate per sq in

INR 872

Medium

Black conte crayon on paper

Dimensions

59.1 × 28.7 in (150 × 73 cm)

Lot

2 · So.Lon/31.05.22

Provenance

Collection from the property of Mrs. Ute Rettberg, UK

1970

Public Auction HighPainting

Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary ArtNew Delhi · 01 March 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Mahakala (1970), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series VI: With Rare Drawings and Books on Indian Contemporary Art by Osian's, which concluded on 01 March 2006 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹6,90,000 ($15,558). 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.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). Mahakala, 1970 | Painting

Selling price

INR6,90,000

Below low estimate

Estimate

INR 8,00,000 – 10,00,000

Rate per sq in

INR 1,086

Medium

Watercolour on paper

Dimensions

30.1 × 21.1 in (77 × 54 cm)

Lot

81 · Os.Del/01.03.06

2000

Retrospective ExhibitionSolo Exhibition Catalogue

Devayani Krishna · DevayaniNational Gallery of Modern Art · 30 April 2000

In 2000, Devayani A Retrospective 1940-2000 marked a major milestone in the exhibition history of Devayani Krishna, offering a retrospective survey of the artist's artistic production

Krishna, Devayani (Artist) and Keshav Malik (Curator). Devayani, 2000 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882952

Research Categories

02Modern and Contemporary Indian Fine Arts

2002

Image 1/2

First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCGraphic Art

Bonhams · Islamic and Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian SubcontinentLondon · 17 October 2002

On 17 October 2002, Devayani Krishna made their debut in the Indian public auction market when What and Where' series; Ma…' Series was presented as Lot 662 in Islamic and Indian Art: Including Modern and Contemporary Paintings from the Indian Subcontinent, conducted by Bonhams in London, UK. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.

Krishna, Devayani (Artist). What and Where' series; Ma…' Series, 1970 | 1976 | Graphic Art

Medium

Etching

Lot

662 · Bon.Lon/17.10.02

Economics of Art

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

Annual Auction Sale Turnover
Average Sale Price Per Lot
Square Inch Rate Trend

Currency

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Devayani Krishna’s artworks, beginning in 1987 through to the present.
It aggregates all sales across global auction houses into yearly totals.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
The turnover graph highlights periods of strong growth, moments of market correction, and resilience during downturns. Peaks often align with landmark works coming to public auction, while troughs may indicate reduced supply or weaker demand. Over time, the curve illustrates the overall trajectory of Devayani Krishna’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Devayani Krishna sold each year.
It smooths out fluctuations caused by the quantity of works offered and focuses on the Average Sale Price level per artwork.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
Rising average sale prices indicate growing collector confidence and a stronger willingness to pay higher amounts per work. Assuming the mix of mediums remains relatively stable over time, the proportion of works on paper typically priced lower than works on canvas adds important context to understanding these market movements.

Square Inch Rate Trend

The Square Inch Rate normalizes prices by the size of each artwork, showing the average sale value per square inch over time.
This allows fair comparisons between smaller works and larger canvases.

Analysis reflected in the chart:
The Square Inch Rate shown in the graph combines various medium types such as canvas, paper, board, and others. Historically, works on canvas and board have broadly commanded higher prices compared to works on paper.