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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
  10. 1961

    1. Mainichi International Biennale, Tokyo, Japan
    2. International Biennale, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  11. 1962

    1. International Biennale, Venice, Italy
  12. 1963

    1. All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    2. Exhibition of Paintings, Fine Arts Gallery, New Delhi, India
    3. Ten Contemporary Painters from India, University of South Florida, USA
    4. East-West Centre, Honolulu, USA
    5. Jacksonville Art Museum, Jacksonville, USA
    6. Long Beach Art Institute, San Francisco, USA
    7. Delgado Museum of Art, New Orleans, USA
    8. Colorado Fine Arts Centre, Colorado Springs, USA
    9. Hunter Gallery of Art, Chattanooga, USA
  13. 1964

    1. National Exhibition, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  14. 1965

    1. Kumar Gallery, New Delhi, India
    2. Ten Contemporary Indian Painters, M.I.T. Cambridge & New Jersey State Museum, Trenton, USA
    3. Fifth International Contemporary Art Exhibition, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India

      19 Dec 1965

  15. 1967

    1. 15 Nov 1967 to 30 Nov 1967

    2. 27 Oct 1967 to 07 Jan 1968

    3. Pittsburgh International Show, Pittsburgh, USA
  16. 1968

    1. 1st Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  17. 1970

    1. Art Today, Organised by Kunika-Chemould Art Centre, at Ashoka Gallery, New Delhi, India
  18. 1971

    1. Paintings, Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, India
    2. 2nd Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  19. 1972

    1. 25 Years of Indian Art, Organised by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai, India
    2. Contemporary Indian Painters, USSR and Greece
  20. 1973

    1. 05 Feb 1973 to 21 Feb 1973

    2. International Biennale, Sydney, Australia
    3. Contemporary Indian Painting, Washington D.C. & Los Angeles, USA
    4. Contemporary Indian Painting, Toronto, Canada
    5. Indian Painting Today, Belgium, Poland, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria
  21. 1974

    1. Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, India
    2. 06 Sep 1974 to 21 Sep 1974

  22. 1975

    1. Hempsted Public Library, New York, USA
    2. Atelier-Galerie Irmgard Sen Gupta, Hamburg, West Germany
    3. 3rd International Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

      03 Feb 1975 to 05 Feb 1975

  23. 1977

    1. Retrospective 1950-1977, Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
  24. 1978

    1. 4th International Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  25. 1982

    1. 5th International Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
60 of 130
De, Biren (Artist). Exhibition of Paintings by Biren De, 1952 | Solo Exhibition Catalogue | 00882212
1 / 8

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
1991
Public Auction HighPainting
HEART · The Intuitive-Logic II: Modern & Contemporary Indian Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Sculpture & TapestryMumbai · 15 November 1997
In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of October '91 (1991), 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 ₹3,00,000 ($8,165). 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). October '91, 1991 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,00,000
20% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,75,000 – 2,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 208
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
38 × 38 in (97 × 97 cm)
Signature
Signed & Inscibed on the back.
Lot
100 · He.Mum/15.11.97
1991
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · The Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art – Books, Paintings & SculptureNew Delhi · 15 October 2004
In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of May '91 (1991), offered in the The Masterpieces & Museum Quality Series: Indian Contemporary Art – Books, Paintings & Sculpture by Osian's, which concluded on 15 October 2004 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹9,77,913 ($21,324). 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). May '91, 1991 | Painting
Selling price
INR9,77,913
22% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 7,00,000 – 8,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 661
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
46.1 × 32.1 in (117 × 82 cm)
Lot
102 · Os.Del/15.10.04
1992
Image 1/2
First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCPainting
Sotheby's · Indian European and Oriental Paintings and Works of ArtNew Delhi · 09 October 1992
On 09 October 1992, Biren De made their debut in the Indian public auction market when The Moment, July 1165 was presented as Lot 143 in Indian European and Oriental Paintings and Works of Art, conducted by Sotheby's in New Delhi, India. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.
De, Biren (Artist). The Moment, July 1165, 1965 | Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Lot
143 · So.Del/09.10.92
1994
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002
as an artist I had to follow my own path, and whatever was happening inside me had to come out on my canvases. In my own way I was trying to assimilate these two seemingly disparate experiences of mine: one with the tribal folks and the other with the seekers of truth: one vital and raw, the other austere and serene. To me a synthesis of the two was the ideal, as I felt they were two different manifestations of the same source – energy… The architectonic principle on which the compositions were based was a recurring factor in all my works: the figures and the environment would be bound together by a strong grid, constructed out of different arrangement of black lines – vertical, horizontal and elliptical… From around the end of 1956 the human figures in my compositions started getting embodied and turning into free shapes and units… at the end of 1959, emerged two major signs (or symbols): one curved (U-like) representing female principle and the other straight and wedge like representing the Male principle. From 1960 onwards my work has sought the unity of these two… and placing them alongside other fundamental shapes – the ancient circle and the square, cylinder and the parabola… the underlying theme constituted by the group of paintings (done between 1962 & 1965) being: the coming together of man and woman, consummation of their union resulting in conception and birth of a new life, and their transcendental journey together to Divinity. The forms obviously came from erotic sources, but their eroticism was implicit.
De, Biren (Artist). March '94, 1994 | Painting
Selling price
INR6,60,000
65% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 3,00,000 – 4,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 461
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
47.7 × 30 in (121 × 76 cm)
Lot
85 · Os.Mum/05.12.02
1997
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 Light Ascending (May '97) (1997), 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 ₹27,60,000 ($59,843.89). 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). Light Ascending (May '97), 1997 | Painting
Selling price
INR27,60,000
38% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,104
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
50 × 50 in (127 × 127 cm)
Lot
64 · Os.Mum/02.12.05
2009
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Os.Mum/30.06.09Auction Catalogue
Osians · Select Masterpieces of Indian Modern & Contemporary ArtNew York · 30 June 2009
In 2009, an artwork by Biren De was featured on the cover of Osians: Select Masterpieces of Indian Modern & Contemporary Art (June 2009, New York), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
Osians (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Select Masterpieces of Indian Modern & Contemporary Art. 30 June 2009 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
58
Lots sold
29 · 50%
Pages
143
Lot
Os.Mum/30.06.09

Economics of Art

20 of 50

Research Centre

60 of 332