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N.S. Bendre — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
21 Aug 1910
Zodiac sign
Leo
Date of Death
18 Feb 1992
Age
81
Place of Birth
Indore, Indore State | Present-day Madhya Pradesh, India
State Country of Birth
Indore State | Present-day Madhya Pradesh, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1935

    1. 45th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  2. 1937

    1. 46th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  3. 1938

    1. 47th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  4. 1943

    1. Mumbai, India
  5. 1945

    1. Annual Exhibition, Art Society of India, Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, India
  6. 1948

    1. Windermere Gallery, USA
    2. Bombay Art Society Salon, Rampart Row, Mumbai, India
  7. 1949

    1. 59th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  8. 1950

    1. Mumbai, India
    2. 60th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  9. 1956

    1. 66th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  10. 1957

    1. Mumbai, India
    2. Vadodara, India
  11. 1958

    1. 68th Annual Exhibition, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai, India
  12. 1960

    1. Abstract Works, Vadodara, India
  13. 1962

    1. Vadodara, India
  14. 1963

    1. Mumbai, India
  15. 1966

    1. Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademi, Gujarat, India
  16. 1968

    1. Mumbai, India
  17. 1969

    1. Travelling Exhibition, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Poland
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Chronicled Highlights 24

N.S. Bendre
1910Born
N.S. Bendre

N.S. Bendre was born in 1910 in Indore, Indore State | Present-day Madhya Pradesh, India.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Bazar. Oil on board, 1942 | Painting | FineArts | 00332025
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Bazar. Oil on board, 1942 | Painting | FineArts | 00332025

Bombay Art Society Gold Medal awarded to N.S. Bendre in 1941; this was the most respected and prestigious award for the modern Indian artists until the establishment of the Lalit Kala National Awards in 1955.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Fisherwomen. Gouache on paper, 1943 | Painting | FineArts | 00373077
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Fisherwomen. Gouache on paper, 1943 | Painting | FineArts | 00373077

In 1996, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Fisherwomen (1943), offered in the Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings: One Hundred Years by Sotheby's, which concluded on 08 October 1996 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹3,22,712 ($9,063.67). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Flowers. Watercolour on paper, 1943 | Painting | FineArts | 00332027
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Flowers. Watercolour on paper, 1943 | Painting | FineArts | 00332027

The earlier 1940s Still Lifes with Flowers in watercolours were essential studies for later oil on canvas experimental cubist paintings which gained him significant respect and artistic credibility during the 1950s.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Landscape. Watercolour on paper, 1945 | Painting | FineArts | 00372293
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Landscape. Watercolour on paper, 1945 | Painting | FineArts | 00372293

In 1995, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Landscape (1945), offered in the Indian Contemporary Paintings: Islamic Works of Art and Indian, Himalaya and South-East Asian Art by Christie's, which concluded on 16 October 1995 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,18,154 ($3,446). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Versova. Oil on canvas, 1950 | Painting | FineArts | 00336055
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Versova. Oil on canvas, 1950 | Painting | FineArts | 00336055

With the inclusion of the hues and even the inclusion of the black colour which are Expressionist traits, Bendre rather successfully attempted a sort of telescoping of the late nineteenth century French Impressionist style with the German Expressionist style of the second decade of the twentieth century… Langhammer brought into India Kokoschka’s style of panoramic landscapes. Similar hues of colour were employed by Bendre to replace the mellow colour scheme of the existing Indore school as if to usher in the celebration of the Indian sunshine.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Mad Woman. Pencil on paper, 1956 | Drawing | FineArts | 00371686
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Mad Woman. Pencil on paper, 1956 | Drawing | FineArts | 00371686

For me, the creative process starts with the blank canvas, by the dabbing of paint on it, the aim being to catch the original impact of the total image conceived. Things are nebulous in the beginning, become clearer by manipulating, by the application of more paint, dabbing, scratching, washing off, repainting till I’m nearer to the original impact. There is a natural limit for the canvas to take the load of paint and for my mental endurance: so I resign, I finish a painting and I sign it… Sketches help my paintings, so whenever I travel, I keep some paper in my bag for sketching. I make very small sketches, and these sketches are my gold mines….

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Women In Forest. Gouache, c.1956 | Painting | FineArts | 00376576
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Women In Forest. Gouache, c.1956 | Painting | FineArts | 00376576

I think it was during the late 1950s that we can say that he (Bendre) truly ‘arrived’. He had been painting for nearly two decades; during the 1940s he was concentrating on landscape painting to begin with in a broader Impressionisticquality. But by about 1955, he showed interesting grasp of the simplicity of Jamini Roy, the synthesis of Cubistic elements and Indian sculptural sensuality of the Sinhalese George Keyt, Bendre developed a significant figuration which was cubistic as well as elegantly linear like the Kangra painting.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Two Women Working). Oil on canvas, 1968 | Painting | FineArts | 00416723
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Two Women Working). Oil on canvas, 1968 | Painting | FineArts | 00416723

Man is the centre of my universe along with his emotions, his love, his social intercourse, his surroundings.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1971 | Painting  | 00867514
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1971 | Painting | 00867514

In 2020, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1971), offered in the Alive: Evening Sale of Modern and Contemporary Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 17 September 2020 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,56,00,000 ($213,699). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1974 | Painting | FineArts | 00598154
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1974 | Painting | FineArts | 00598154

In 2005, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1974), offered in the Summer Online Auction: Modern and Contemporary Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 12 May 2005 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹32,06,500 ($74,053). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). A Bundi House. Oil on canvas, 1979 | Painting | FineArts | 00547724
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). A Bundi House. Oil on canvas, 1979 | Painting | FineArts | 00547724

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of A Bundi House (1979), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 18 November 2021 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹3,50,00,000 ($471,983.08). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Jaisalmer Fort. Oil on canvas, 1979 | Painting | FineArts | 00547722
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Jaisalmer Fort. Oil on canvas, 1979 | Painting | FineArts | 00547722

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Jaisalmer Fort (1979), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 18 November 2021 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹5,00,00,000 ($674,261.55). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1980 | Painting | FineArts | 00548118
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1980 | Painting | FineArts | 00548118

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1980), offered in the Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 28 December 2021 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹6,66,63,372 ($890,592.9). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Quilt from Kutch. Oil on canvas, 1983 | Painting | FineArts | 00374259
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Quilt from Kutch. Oil on canvas, 1983 | Painting | FineArts | 00374259

In 1997, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Quilt from Kutch (1983), offered in the Indian Contemporary Art by Christie's, which concluded on 04 June 1997 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹13,46,305 ($37,633). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1983 | Painting | FineArts | 00418536
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1983 | Painting | FineArts | 00418536

To me, creative art demands transforming raw material from surroundings observed deliberately or by chance into an integrated whole.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Woman Selling Fruits. Oil on canvas, 1986 | Painting | FineArts | 00594834
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Woman Selling Fruits. Oil on canvas, 1986 | Painting | FineArts | 00594834

In 2017, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Woman Selling Fruits (1986), offered in the Modern & Contemporary Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 23 August 2017 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹91,83,900 ($143,213.8). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1988 | Painting | FineArts | 00416103
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1988 | Painting | FineArts | 00416103

Today the master has come to terms with himself. He has done away with the use of complementary colours, which he feels are seen only when the artist is prompted by scientific knowledge… Today, even more than before, he concentrates on the depiction of joy, the charm that the world has to offer to anyone who cares to see it. He uses familiar forms with hardly any stylisation or modelling and avoids cast shadows. His paintings are invariably two-dimensional, without any perspective; he conveys the effect of distance with gradual elimination of details.

He gives prime importance to his visual experience, but he does not resort to naturalistic representation. He interprets it on his canvas in his own terms and offers what he has seen and enjoyed.

He shuns obsession - any scientific or psychological dogma. He has no message. It is not his business to preach. He only wishes to share with you the joys that the world has in store.

Sotheby's (Auction House). The Times of India Auction of Timeless Art (Charity Auction) by Sotheby's of London. 26 March 1989, Bombay | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861837
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Sotheby's (Auction House). The Times of India Auction of Timeless Art (Charity Auction) by Sotheby's of London. 26 March 1989, Bombay | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861837

On 26 March 1989, N.S. Bendre made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Delight In Perspective was presented as Lot 22 in The Times of India Auction of Timeless Art (Charity Auction) by Sotheby's of London, conducted by Sotheby's in Bombay, India. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1989 | Painting | FineArts | 00646507
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled. Oil on canvas, 1989 | Painting | FineArts | 00646507

In 2014, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1989), offered in the Live Auction: Modern Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 04 September 2014 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹90,00,000 ($148,873.52). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Krishna on Kaliya). Oil on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00545820
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Krishna on Kaliya). Oil on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00545820

In 2021, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Krishna on Kaliya) (1991), offered in the Spring Live Auction: Modern Indian Art by Saffronart, which concluded on 11 March 2021 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,98,00,000 ($275,000). 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.

Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Pancham). Oil on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00418537
Bendre, N.S. (Artist). Untitled (Pancham). Oil on canvas, 1991 | Painting | FineArts | 00418537

Whatever I have experienced in the world, I paint. Other things are not important to me.

Bowrings (Auction House). Auction of Paintings and Works of Art. 05 November 2001, New Delhi | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861882
Bowrings (Auction House). Auction of Paintings and Works of Art. 05 November 2001, New Delhi | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861882

In 2001, an artwork by N.S. Bendre was featured on the cover of Bowrings: Auction of Paintings and Works of Art (November 2001, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Pundole (Auction House). The Fine Art Sale - Including Property from the Collection of the Late Nandalal Bandyopadhyay. 18 November 2021, Mumbai | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862407
Pundole (Auction House). The Fine Art Sale - Including Property from the Collection of the Late Nandalal Bandyopadhyay. 18 November 2021, Mumbai | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862407

In 2021, an artwork by N.S. Bendre was featured on the cover of Pundole: The Fine Art Sale (November 2021, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Saffronart (Auction House). Evening Sale. 17 September 2022, New Delhi | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862443
Saffronart (Auction House). Evening Sale. 17 September 2022, New Delhi | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862443

In 2022, an artwork by N.S. Bendre was featured on the cover of Saffronart: Evening Sale (September 2022, New Delhi), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.

Economics of Art

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Research Centre

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