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Introduction

Date of Birth
22 Oct 1933
Zodiac sign
Libra
Date of Death
24 Feb 2014
Age
80
Place of Birth
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Place of Death
Calcutta
State Country of Birth
West Bengal, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1955

    1. Solo Exhibition, Kolkata, India
  2. 1956

    1. Studio Group, Kolkata, India
  3. 1958

    1. Studio Group, Kolkata, India
  4. 1959

    1. Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Kolkata, India
    2. Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Mumbai, India
    3. Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
    4. Solo Exhibition, Kolkata, India
  5. 1960

    1. Mahajati Sadan, Kolkata, India
    2. Solo Exhibition, Kolkata, India
  6. 1961

    1. Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
    2. Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, India
  7. 1962

    1. Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Kolkata, India
    2. All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    3. Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Mumbai, India
  8. 1963

    1. Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
    2. 8 Painters, Kolkata, India
  9. 1964

    1. Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, India
    2. All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi, India
    3. Calcutta Painters, New Delhi, India
    4. Banga Sanskriti Sammelan, Mumbai, India
20 of 114

Chronicled Highlights 71968 – 2002

Prokash Karmakar was born in 1933 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.
1968
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary PaintingsMumbai · 05 December 2002
In 2002, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Assassinated (1968), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality Indian Modern & Contemporary Paintings by Osian's, which concluded on 05 December 2002 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹3,85,000 ($7,981). 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.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Assassinated, 1968 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,85,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 5,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 117
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
46 × 71.7 in (117 × 182 cm)
Lot
54 · Os.Mum/05.12.02
1971
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 Conflict Series (1971), 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 ₹60,00,000 ($129,674). 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.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Conflict Series, 1971 | Painting
Selling price
INR60,00,000
20% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 40,00,000 – 50,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,275
Medium
Oil on paper pasted on canvas board
Dimensions
58.6 × 80.3 in (149 × 204 cm)
Lot
31 · Os.Mum/09.09.06
1972
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Forty Masterpieces: 20th Century Painting and Drawing from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri LankaMumbai · 27 March 2003
In 2003, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1972), offered in the Forty Masterpieces: 20th Century Painting and Drawing from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka by Osian's, which concluded on 27 March 2003 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹6,60,000 ($13,848). 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.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Untitled, 1972 | Painting
Selling price
INR6,60,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 9,00,000 – 10,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 261
Medium
Oil on paper
Dimensions
59 × 42.9 in (150 × 109 cm)
Lot
30 · Os.Mum/27.03.03
1973
Literary ReferencePainting
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtOnline · 27 August 2022
Prokash likes to draw or paint birds, horses, man and woman – anything from life around him…His lines are thin or thick depending on the mood to be conveyed. He makes effective use of colour – black for an engrossing darkness or red to indicate blood-spilling as for instance when he depicts strife…He has his own symbolism. He prefers to depict a part like an eye to signify a man. Or, he makes use of green instead of a tree, because a complete depiction would disturb or destroy the overall conception.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). The Black Light, 1973 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,80,800
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 889
Medium
Oil on Board
Dimensions
18 × 23.8 in (46 × 60 cm)
Lot
23 · De.Onl/27.08.22
1990
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 Women In Landscape (1990), 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 ₹13,80,000 ($31,622). 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.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Women In Landscape, 1990 | Painting
Selling price
INR13,80,000
10% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 10,00,000 – 12,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 288
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
59.4 × 80.7 in (151 × 205 cm)
Lot
93 · Os.Mum/09.02.05
2001
Image 1/2
First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCPainting
Osian's · India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and BooksMumbai · 24 February 2001
On 24 February 2001, made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Woman was presented as Lot in India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and Books, conducted by Osian's in Mumbai, India. This auction marked the artist's first recorded appearance in the public auction market, establishing the earliest chapter of their auction history.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Woman, 1987 | Painting
Selling price
INR90,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 291
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
15.6 × 19.9 in (40 × 51 cm)
Lot
198 · Os.Mum/24.02.01
2002
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 Landscape (2002), 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 ₹23,00,000 ($49,869.9). 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.
Karmakar, Prokash (Artist). Landscape, 2002 | Painting
Selling price
INR23,00,000
15% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 672
Medium
Acrylic on canvas
Dimensions
47.8 × 71.6 in (121 × 182 cm)
Lot
37 · Os.Mum/02.12.05

Economics of Art

Public Auction Market (1987–2026) | Select Indicators

  1. Annual Auction Sale Turnover
  2. Average Sale Price Per Lot
  3. Square Inch Rate Trend
Currency

Annual Auction Sale Turnover

This indicator tracks the Total Annual Auction Sales value of Prokash Karmakar’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 Prokash Karmakar’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Prokash Karmakar 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.

Research Centre

Posts 2

  1. All Living Souls
    Tuli Research Centre for India Studies presents All Living Souls - Expressed in the Modern and Contemporary Fine & Popular Indian Arts Curated by Neville Tuli As part of launching the 16th Research Category for India Studies - "The Animal-Human-Nature-Continuum" we present a fascinating exhibition of modern and contemporary Indian fine and popular arts and their expression of the ideas and forms related to the dialogue between animals and humans, and the larger cosmic and spiritual thoughts which abide therein. Please visit the Exhibition and see the artworks by modern and contemporary masters such as Rabindranath Tagore, D.P. Roy Chowdhury, M.F. Husain, J. Swaminathan, J. Sultan Ali, Somnath Hore, Ganesh Pyne, Manjit Bawa, K. Laxma Goud, Krishna Reddy, Jyoti Bhatt, Rekha Rodwittiya, Amit Ambalal, among others, along with vintage and rare prints from the pioneering Indian chromolithographic presses such as Chitrashala, Ravi Varma, Calcutta Art Studio, Chore Bagan & Kansaripara.
  2. SWARAJ - Revisualising India's Political History
    "What does 𝗦𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗷 truly mean? Is freedom achieved at a single historic moment or period, or must self-rule be continually imagined, questioned and renewed? India's journey towards Swaraj was shaped not by one voice or one path, but through reform and resistance, revolution and non-violence, political thought, public protest, art, print, photography, cinema and the collective will of its people. The Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) presents 𝗦𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗝: 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮'𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆, a pioneering exhibition curated by Neville Tuli. Bringing together rare artworks, prints, photographs, books, film publicity art, political propaganda and visual-textual-audio archives, SWARAJ traces India's complex journey towards political self-rule and self-discovery. From early European coastal encounters, the Bengal Renaissance and the First War of Independence in 1857 to the rise of Bharat Mata, the Tiranga, Gandhiji's inspired satyagraha, civil disobedience and mass mobilisation, the exhibition explores how the idea of India was envisioned, contested and transformed. It journeys through revolutionary movements and non-violence, subaltern uprisings, the Partition, the Constitution, the integration of the Princely States, the Emergency, wars, civic dissent and people's protests. It also foregrounds the vital role of artists, photographers, publishers, newspapers, journals, cartoons and cinema in recording and shaping the nation's political consciousness. SWARAJ invites us to encounter history not as something distant or settled, but as a daily living inheritance that continues to influence who we are and how we understand freedom, identity, and ourselves today. Watch the video for a glimpse into this expansive visual journey, and follow the exhibition as it revisualises India's political history through art, image, text and sound.

Calendar 2

  1. SWARAJ - Revisualising India's Political History
    ArchivedOpening PreviewProject 82
    SWARAJ - Revisualising India's Political History
    An Exhibition of Modern & Contemporary Fine & Popular Arts, Photography, Film Memorabilia and Visual-Textual-Audio Archive
    12th August 2026
    6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi,
    The Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) announces its seventh exhibition. “Swaraj – Revisualising India's Political History” -- An exhibition of Modern and Contemporary Fine and Popular Arts, Photography, Film Memorabilia and Visual-Textual-Audio Archives. Swaraj will open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at the Visual Arts Gallery and will remain open till 7 p.m. Sunday, 16 August 2026. Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) presents SWARAJ | Revisualising India's Political History, a pioneering inter-disciplinary offline-online exhibition conceptualised and curated by Neville Tuli with Team T.R.I.S.. SWARAJ explores India's journey towards political self-rule and self-discovery through a remarkable collection of rare modern and contemporary fine and popular arts, albums, photographs, books, prints, propaganda, cartoons, film publicity artworks and other "text-visual-audio" archives contextualised within a clear historical framework, which defines T.R.I.S.' pedagogic approach to learning. The Exhibition will be of particular interest to students and scholars of India & Cultural Studies, and India's political and modern histories as well as those interested in the passage of events and ideas from the mid-1850s leading up to the turn of the 21st century. Unique to the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies is the richness of visual material that not only exhorts a deeper understanding of the art and archival materials on display but also brings alive the multi-layered narratives of the exhibition and naturally India's journey in being ad searching for herself.
    Read More →
    +16 more
  2. SWARAJ - Revisualising India's Political History
    ArchivedExhibitionProject 81
    SWARAJ - Revisualising India's Political History
    An Exhibition of Modern & Contemporary Fine & Popular Arts, Photography, Film Memorabilia and Visual-Textual-Audio Archive
    12th - 19th August 2026
    10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
    Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi,
    19
    The Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) announces its seventh exhibition. “Swaraj – Revisualising India's Political History” -- An exhibition of Modern and Contemporary Fine and Popular Arts, Photography, Film Memorabilia and Visual-Textual-Audio Archives. Swaraj will open at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, 12 August 2026 at the Visual Arts Gallery and will remain open till 7 p.m. Sunday, 16 August 2026. Tuli Research Centre for India Studies (T.R.I.S.) presents SWARAJ | Revisualising India's Political History, a pioneering inter-disciplinary offline-online exhibition conceptualised and curated by Neville Tuli with Team T.R.I.S.. SWARAJ explores India's journey towards political self-rule and self-discovery through a remarkable collection of rare modern and contemporary fine and popular arts, albums, photographs, books, prints, propaganda, cartoons, film publicity artworks and other "text-visual-audio" archives contextualised within a clear historical framework, which defines T.R.I.S.' pedagogic approach to learning. The Exhibition will be of particular interest to students and scholars of India & Cultural Studies, and India's political and modern histories as well as those interested in the passage of events and ideas from the mid-1850s leading up to the turn of the 21st century. Unique to the Tuli Research Centre for India Studies is the richness of visual material that not only exhorts a deeper understanding of the art and archival materials on display but also brings alive the multi-layered narratives of the exhibition and naturally India's journey in being ad searching for herself.
    Read More →
    +16 more