Introduction
- Date of Birth
- 1926
- Date of Death
- 22 Jan 2004
- Age
- 78
- Place of Birth
- Bombay, Maharashtra, India
- State Country of Birth
- Maharashtra, India
Chronicled Highlights
10 entries
1926Born
Mohan Samant
Mohan Samant was born in 1926 in Bombay, Maharashtra, India.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Market Scene. Watercolour on paper, 1949 | Painting | FineArts | 00375767
In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Market Scene (1949), offered in the The Intuitive-Logic II: Modern & Contemporary Indian Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Sculpture & Tapestry by HEART, which concluded on 15 November 1997 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,10,000 ($2,994). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Blue Mirror. Oil on paper, early 1950s | Painting | FineArts | 00371693
In 2001, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Blue Mirror (1951), offered in the India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and Books by Osian's, which concluded on 24 February 2001 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,20,000 ($2,576). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Untitled. Gouache on card, c.1952-1954 | Painting | FineArts | 00373664
In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1954), offered in the The Indian Sale by Sotheby's, which concluded on 08 May 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹48,312 ($1,349). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Woman With Sitar (Double-Sided Painting). Opaque watercolour on paper, c.1954 | Painting | FineArts | 0022585
There is a poetic quality in Mohan Samant’s painting that is closely akin to music, which is indeed his first and continuing love… His restless vision is apocalyptic and his experience metaphysical rather than sensory; his images, albeit they are assembled in a seemingly familiar encounter, belong to a dream-world of hieroglyphs, erotic creatures, angels and mermaids, legendary snakes, coagulated symbols with accidental physical attributes and cut-outs from other paintings. The phantasmagoria of this dreamland cohere in a consistency of realization and gesture, built into the texture of the painting; the images echo recollected experiences in the consciousness of the spectator; their impact is dramatic but not abrupt.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Woman With Sitar. Oil and watercolour on paper, 1955 | Painting | FineArts | 00373373
There is a poetic quality in Mohan Samant’s painting that is closely akin to music, which is indeed his first and continuing love…His restless vision is apocalyptic and his experience metaphysical rather than sensory; his images, albeit they are assembled in a seemingly familiar encounter, belong to a dream-world of hieroglyphs, erotic creatures, angels and mermaids, legendary snakes, coagulated symbols with accidental physical attributes and cut-outs from other paintings. The phantasmagoria of this dreamland cohere in a consistency of realization and gesture, built into the texture of the painting; the images echo recollected experiences in the consciousness of the spectator; their impact is dramatic but not abrupt.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Fishmarket. Mixed media on canvas, 1958 | Painting | FineArts | 00576093
In 2008, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Fishmarket (1958), offered in the Modern & Contemporary Art: South Asia: India, Pakistan by Sotheby's, which concluded on 18 September 2008 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹57,21,975 ($122,500). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Untitled (White Wall). Mixed media on canvas, circa 1960s | Painting | EconomicsArt | 00872855
In 2026, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (White Wall) (1965), offered in the South Asian Modern + Contemporary Art Online by Christie's, which concluded on 01 April 2026 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹1,42,05,021.12 ($152,400). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Kings and the Crowd. Mixed media on canvas, 1969 | Painting | 00866438
In 2020, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Kings and the Crowd (1969), offered in the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art Online by Sotheby's, which concluded on 16 March 2020 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹1,20,69,248.75 ($162,500). 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.
Samant, Mohan (Artist). Untitled: Heads in a Triangle. Mixed media with sand on canvas, 1973 | Painting | 00868457
In 2024, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled: Heads in a Triangle (1973), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 17 October 2024 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,30,00,000 ($154,705.92). 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.
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Sotheby's (Auction House). The Indian Sale. 08 May 1997, London | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861850
On 08 May 1997, made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Summer was presented as Lot in The Indian Sale, conducted by Sotheby's 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.
Economics of Art
Currency
This section showcases auction lots that achieved record-high sale prices, tracked by the date each record was set based on the artist's historical auction data.
Record-high lots7
Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators
Currency
Annual Auction Sale Turnover
This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Mohan Samant’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 Mohan Samant’s public auction market presence.
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 Mohan Samant’s public auction market presence.
Average Sale Price Per Lot
This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Mohan Samant 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.
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.
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.
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