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G.R. Santosh — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
19 Jun 1929
Zodiac sign
Gemini
Date of Death
10 Mar 1997
Age
67
Place of Birth
Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India
State Country of Birth
Jammu & Kashmir, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1950

    1. Shows with Kashmir Progressive Artists' Association, Kashmir, India
  2. 1953

    1. One-man Show, Srinagar, India
  3. 1956

    1. One-man Show, Srinagar, India
    2. Indian Exhibition to Eastern Europe
  4. 1957

    1. One-man Show, Mumbai, India
    2. National Exhibition, New Delhi, India
  5. 1959

    1. One-man Show, Mumbai, India
    2. Contemporary Art from India, Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany
    3. Contemporary Art from India, Stadtische Kunsthalle, Recklinghausen, Germany
    4. Contemporary Art from India, Museum Ostwall, Dortmund, Germany
    5. Contemporary Art from India, Galerie Palette, Zurich, Switzerland
    6. Contemporary lndian Painters, Japan
    7. Modern Indian Art, Cairo, Egypt
  6. 1961

    1. One-man Show, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi, India
    2. Paris Biennale, Paris, France
    3. National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
  7. 1962

    1. One-man Show, Kumar Gallery, Kolkata, India
    2. One-man Show, Mumbai, India
    3. One-man Show, Kabul, Afghanistan
    4. 22 Jan 1962 to 06 Feb 1962

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Santosh, G.R. (Artist). G.R. Santosh, 1962 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882714

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). G.R. Santosh, 1962 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882714

Chronicled Highlights 171955 – 2011

G.R. Santosh was born in 1929 in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, India.

1955
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 Woman (1955), 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 ₹6,90,000 ($15,811). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Woman, 1955 | Painting
Selling price
INR6,90,000
73% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 3,20,000 – 4,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,176
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
34.6 × 16.9 in (88 × 43 cm)
Lot
10 · Os.Mum/09.02.05
1958
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · Indian Contemporary ArtLondon · 04 June 1997

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Boat Woman in Kashmir (1958), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 04 June 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,07,704 ($3,011). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Boat Woman in Kashmir, 1958 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,07,704
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,17,070 – 1,75,605
Rate per sq in
INR 72.51
Medium
Oil on canvas laid on board
Dimensions
47.5 × 31.3 in (121 × 79 cm)
Lot
101 · Ch.Lon/04.06.97
1959
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian PaintingsNew York · 24 September 2004

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Lovers In The Window (1959), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian Paintings by Sotheby's, which concluded on 24 September 2004 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹4,96,152 ($10,800). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Lovers In The Window, 1959 | Painting
Selling price
INR4,96,152
80% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,83,760 – 2,75,640
Rate per sq in
INR 553
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
28 × 32.1 in (71 × 82 cm)
Lot
136 · So.NeY/24.09.04
1962
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & BooksMumbai · 27 November 2003

In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1962), offered in the Fn-Fn: Figurative Non-Figurative Narration: Auctions of Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings & Books by Osian's, which concluded on 27 November 2003 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹3,08,000 ($6,712). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1962 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,08,000
3% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 2,50,000 – 3,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 217
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
34 × 41.7 in (86 × 106 cm)
Lot
222 · Os.Mum/27.11.03
1962
Public Auction HighPainting
Saffronart · Winter Live AuctionMumbai · 13 December 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Enlightenment (1962), offered in the Winter Live Auction by Saffronart, which concluded on 13 December 2023 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹80,40,000 ($96,867). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Enlightenment, 1962 | Painting
Selling price
INR80,40,000
570% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 8,00,000 – 12,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 5,766
Medium
Oil and wax on canvas
Dimensions
34.1 × 40.9 in (87 × 104 cm)
Lot
10 · Sa.Mum/13.12.23
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by William Begley, Kashmir, 1963-1965 Gifted by William Begley to his cousin, 1969 Thence by descent Bonhams, London, 22 November 2022, lot 13 Private Collection, New Delhi
1962
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002

‘I am not literally abstract; there is much of the influence of my environment and atmosphere – I mean, of Kashmir’… The conical forms which we perceive in Santosh’s paintings can be traced to Kashmir: to the coniferous trees, the Kashmiri cap, the jagged roofs of Kashmiri houses, even the mountain peaks. The blues, the greys, the browns – all of which often tend to the pure whiteness of the Himalayan ranges – in Santosh’s paintings prove this point. ‘I am inspired by Kashmir intensely. It is in my blood. When I see other things in other places, the image of Kashmir haunts me with its naked and over laden peaks, the engulfing whiteness of winter and the tall, dark trees rising majestically into the skies’, says Santosh. The artist sensed the possibility of a kind of severity and rigidity in the delineation of this conical form, which might have led him to texture in order to relieve the all too precise structure, to add a new formal dimension. This feeling for Kashmir landscape has grown more subjective during the years he has been away from home.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Lake Kashmir Series, c.1962 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,10,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,50,000 – 2,25,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,195
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
6.6 × 5.2 in (17 × 13 cm)
Lot
89 · Os.Mum/05.12.02
1965
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIIIMumbai · 31 January 2007

In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1965), offered in the Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series VIII by Osian's, which concluded on 31 January 2007 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹38,40,000 ($86,937). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1965 | Painting
Selling price
INR38,40,000
92% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,512
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
50 × 50.8 in (127 × 129 cm)
Lot
22 · Os.Mum/31.01.07
1971
Literary Reference & Public Auction HighPainting
Bowrings · Modern and Contemporary Indian PaintingsMumbai · 21 March 2002
One of my first problems, when I took up painting again in 1968 after a three year break, was to find a pure image. I went to the image of a nude woman – but I cut off the head, the feet and the hands. Once you have a head, you have an attitude, a personal gesture. I wanted an abstract image. In our tradition we have both geometric and iconographic elements. I try to create a synthesis of the two.

In 2002, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1971), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings by Bowrings, which concluded on 21 March 2002 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,60,000 ($3,282). 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.
Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1971 | Painting
Selling price
INR1,60,000
167% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 40,000 – 60,000
Rate per sq in
INR 82.25
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
49.4 × 39.4 in (126 × 100 cm)
Lot
106 · Bow.Mum/21.03.02
1977
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 Untitled (1977), 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 ₹25,281 ($805). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1977 | Painting
Selling price
INR25,281
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 31,405 – 47,108
Rate per sq in
INR 107
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
17.5 × 13.5 in (45 × 34 cm)
Lot
41 · So.NeY/12.06.95
Provenance
Chester & Davida Herwitz Collection, USA
1978
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 Untitled (1978), 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 ₹99,303 ($3,162). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1978 | Painting
Selling price
INR99,303
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,25,620 – 1,88,430
Rate per sq in
INR 33.1
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
60 × 50 in (152 × 127 cm)
Lot
37 · So.NeY/12.06.95
Provenance
Chester & Davida Herwitz Collection, USA
1990
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian PaintingsNew York · 29 March 2006

In 2006, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1990), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian Paintings by Sotheby's, which concluded on 29 March 2006 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹25,47,330 ($57,000). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1990 | Painting
Selling price
INR25,47,330
159% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 8,04,420 – 9,83,180
Rate per sq in
INR 717
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
59.8 × 59.4 in (152 × 151 cm)
Lot
39 · So.NeY/29.03.06
1990
Public Auction HighPainting
Christie's · South Asian Modern and Contemporary ArtNew York · 20 September 2023

In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1990), offered in the South Asian Modern and Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 20 September 2023 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹57,69,592.29 ($69,300). 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.

Santosh, G.R. (Artist). Untitled, 1990 | Painting
Selling price
INR57,69,592
177% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 14,98,595 – 20,81,383
Rate per sq in
INR 2,791
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
53 × 39 in (135 × 99 cm)
Lot
746 · Ch.NeY/20.09.23
Provenance
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner
12 of 17

Economics of Art

20 of 50

Research Centre

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