Skip to main content
TRIS logo image
Sailoz Mookherjea — featured artwork

Introduction

Date of Birth
02 Nov 1907
Zodiac sign
Scorpio
Date of Death
05 Oct 1960
Age
52
Place of Birth
Calcutta, West Bengal, India
Place of Death
New Delhi, NCT of Delhi, India
State Country of Birth
West Bengal, India
State Country of Death
NCT of Delhi, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1937

    1. First solo exhibition, Kolkata, India
  2. 1939

    1. Boy Scout Headquarters, Kolkata, India
  3. 1941

    1. 1, Chowringhee Terrace, Kolkata, India
  4. 1943

    1. 1, Chowringhee Terrace, Kolkata, India
  5. 1945

    1. Town Hall, New Delhi, India
  6. 1947

    1. UNESCO International Exhibition of Modern Art, Paris, France
    2. Exhibition of Contemporary Indian Paintings at India House, London, UK
  7. 1950

    1. Retrospective Exhibition, Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi, India
  8. 1951

    1. Salon de Mai, Paris, France
  9. 1959

    1. Sailoz Mukherjee at Kumar Gallery, New Delhi, India
  10. 1960

    1. Memorial Exhibition, Fine Arts Department, Delhi Polytechnic, New Delhi, India
  11. 1961

    1. Memorial Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India
  12. 1962

    1. Memorial Exhibition, Kunika-Chemould Art Centre, New Delhi, India
  13. 1983

    1. Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India
  14. 1996

    1. Modern Indian Paintings, one Hundred Years - Part I

      14 Oct 1996

  15. 1997

    1. Glimpses of History of Contemporary Indian Art, Part - 1, Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi, India

      29 Sep 1997 to 18 Oct 1997

    2. Major Trends in Indian Art, Curated by Rm. Palaniappan, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

      25 Sep 1997 to 12 Oct 1997

  16. 1998

    1. 25 Aug 1998 to 12 Sep 1998

  17. 2000

    1. Shatabdi: Reflections on A Century Past, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India

      05 Jan 2000 to 23 Jan 2000

    2. Face off 1990 - 1980's: An Exhibition of Indian Old Masters and Moderns, Curated by Santo Datta, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India

      15 Apr 2000 to 31 May 2000

20 of 46
Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Sailoz Mookherjea, 1998 | Solo Exhibition Invitation | 00859354

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Sailoz Mookherjea, 1998 | Solo Exhibition Invitation | 00859354

Chronicled Highlights 131939 – 1997

Sailoz Mookherjea was born in 1907 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India.

1939
Literary ReferencePainting
DeRivaz & Ives · The Progressives & Other Modern MastersOnline · 09 March 2022

When I was a student of Sailoz Mukherjee, I was just a beginner and learning ABC of art… Of course, I remember many profound talks with Sailoz Mukherjee. He was a very strict teacher. We were taught the basic elements of drawing. In Paris, it was entirely different... In fact, he (Sailoz) was giving us live classes, which is rather a western concept. We were supposed to draw still lives and models and get a basic understanding of drawing. When I think of Sailoz now, I feel that he was a real artist, in the true sense of the word, who was unfortunately not given due recognition which he deserved.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Landscape, 1939 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,74,500
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 3,75,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 11,893
Medium
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
4.7 × 6.7 in (12 × 17 cm)
Lot
2 · De.Onl/09.03.22
1945
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · Masterpieces & Museum Quality III: Indian Contemporary Paintings with Rare Books and Vintage Film MemorabiliaMumbai · 26 March 2004

In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Kiss & Lovers Series (1945), offered in the Masterpieces & Museum Quality III: Indian Contemporary Paintings with Rare Books and Vintage Film Memorabilia by Osian's, which concluded on 26 March 2004 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹5,75,000 ($12,855). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Kiss & Lovers Series, c.1945 | Painting
Selling price
INR5,75,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 6,00,000 – 7,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,000
Medium
Oil on paper pasted on board
Dimensions
28.1 × 20.4 in (72 × 52 cm)
Lot
40 · Os.Mum/26.03.04
1947
Literary ReferencePainting
HEART · The Intuitive-Logic II: Modern & Contemporary Indian Paintings, Drawings, Graphics, Sculpture & TapestryMumbai · 15 November 1997

There is a lyricism of line and colour in his work which has no poetic genius of Sailoz… He was not interested in formalising what he saw was the grace and the movement, the colour and the virginity of life, and he painted without a thought in his mind – a mind as restful and clear as the transparent skies of his landscape.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Bazaar Scene, 1947 | Painting
Selling price
INR2,00,000
33% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,213
Medium
Watercolour, pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
11 × 15 in (28 × 38 cm)
Signature
S/d 'Sailoz '47', t.r
Lot
35 · He.Mum/15.11.97
1948
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 (1948), 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 ₹19,20,000 ($43,468). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Untitled, c.1948 | Painting
Selling price
INR19,20,000
28% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 12,00,000 – 15,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 3,441
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
23.6 × 23.6 in (60 × 60 cm)
Lot
78 · Os.Mum/31.01.07
1949
Literary ReferencePainting
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtOnline · 30 July 2022

Sailoz’s second period (1949-1959) includes the mature phase of his art and the paintings of the decade represent the consolidation of the style. His work is much more confident and loose spontaneous and lyrical. The paintings are full of light and air and movement. We see his full unrestricted palette and the freedom and zest with which the artist plays with his colours. Sailoz was a great colourist. These qualities are more evident in the landscape compositions like Washing Day but are also seen in figure paintings with no background like Village Family. Though the paintings in general are small they are full of verve and energy.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Village Scene, 1949 | Painting
Selling price
INR5,37,600
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 6,00,000 – 9,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,016
Medium
Oil on Canvas
Dimensions
23 × 23 in (58 × 58 cm)
Lot
12 · De.Onl/30.07.22
1951
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 Portrait Of A Sadhu (1951), 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 ₹2,10,000 ($4,839). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Portrait Of A Sadhu, early 1950s | Painting
Selling price
INR2,10,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 2,25,000 – 3,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 1,088
Medium
Watercolour on paper
Dimensions
16.3 × 11.8 in (42 × 30 cm)
Lot
180 · He.Del/28.11.99
1955
Public Auction HighPainting
Sotheby's · Modern & Contemporary South Asian ArtNew York · 19 March 2018

In 2018, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (Peace) (1955), offered in the Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art by Sotheby's, which concluded on 19 March 2018 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹26,01,500 ($40,000). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Untitled (Peace), c.1950s | Painting
Selling price
INR26,01,500
100% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 9,75,563 – 13,00,750
Rate per sq in
INR 1,717
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
43.4 × 34.9 in (110 × 89 cm)
Lot
14 · So.NeY/19.03.18
Provenance
Collection of Prof. Herbert H rtel, Berlin Sotheby's London, 17 June 1998, lot 203 Prof. Herbert H rtel (1921 - 2005) was the first director of the Asian Museum in Berlin (Museum f r Indische Kunst), previously called the Museum of Indian Art (1963 -2006). An internationally recognized Indologist, he was known for his tireless efforts to make Indian art history into an independent discipline in Berlin. His greatest success came in the organization of the excavations in Sonkh near Mathura (1966-74).
1955
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and BooksMumbai · 24 February 2001

His paintings though not many in number are important as harbingers of the new attitude towards painting and the “art about art” of the mid-twentieth century…Sailoz has to be considered one of the major figures in modern Indian art. In the 1940’s he did indeed enjoy a reputation and popularity few Indian artists have since been able to rival... Sailoz was proud to be an artist. There is a cold impersonality and ambiguity in modern art from which his work was free. His painting was vibrant and positive, clearly a result of his convictions and temperament; he rejected disappointment and difficulties. He was a man with the soul of a pilgrim, the hand of the artist, the eye of a poet.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Landscape, mid 1950s | Painting
Selling price
INR3,25,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 5,00,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 189
Medium
Watercolour
Dimensions
48 × 35.8 in (122 × 91 cm)
Lot
23 · Os.Mum/24.02.01
1957
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 Nizam-ud-din (1957), 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 ₹9,20,000 ($19,947.96). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Nizam-ud-din, 1957 | Painting
Selling price
INR9,20,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 10,00,000 – 12,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 2,396
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
17.5 × 22 in (44 × 56 cm)
Lot
29 · Os.Mum/02.12.05
1957
Public Auction HighPainting
Osian's · The Masterpieces & ABC Series: Includes Indian Modern & Contemporary Art Books, Popular Culture & Pakistani Film PostersNew Delhi · 27 July 2007

In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Nizam-Ud-Din: Purana Qila (1957), offered in the The Masterpieces & ABC Series: Includes Indian Modern & Contemporary Art Books, Popular Culture & Pakistani Film Posters by Osian's, which concluded on 27 July 2007 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹19,80,000 ($48,913). 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Nizam-Ud-Din: Purana Qila, 1957 | Painting
Selling price
INR19,80,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 16,00,000 – 20,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 4,910
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
18 × 22.4 in (46 × 57 cm)
Lot
22 · Os.Del/27.07.07
1957
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · India Historical Lila: Auction of Indian Modern and Contemporary Paintings, Drawings and Graphic ArtMumbai · 20 October 2001

His contemporaneity is seen especially in a free and spontaneous handling of his media. He questions older conventions and his painterly, pseudo-careless treatment is typical. Here figures are not figures but patches of pigment; garments, hair, trees, are liberated colour. His thin brush sweeps across spaces and whips up shapes with an art nouveau exuberance. He prefers suggestion to statement and his details are only the right amount of decoration. This attitude towards paint and brush is very modern. It is uninhibited and enthusiastic, restless and momentary… His art took the form of small lyrical gems that had been created spontaneously rather than laboriously contrived.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Village Scene, c.1957 | Painting
Selling price
INR3,41,250
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 4,00,000 – 5,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 424
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
26.1 × 30.8 in (66 × 78 cm)
Lot
7 · Os.Mum/20.10.01
1959
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 Night At Jhelum (1959), 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.

Mookherjea, Sailoz (Artist). Night At Jhelum, 1958-1959 | Painting
Selling price
INR5,04,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 4,50,000 – 6,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 814
Medium
Oil on board
Dimensions
29.1 × 21.3 in (74 × 54 cm)
Lot
182 · He.Del/28.11.99
12 of 13

Economics of Art

20 of 50

Research Centre

20 of 282

Posts 1

  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.

Related

51