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Somnath Hore — featured artwork

Introduction

Zodiac sign
Aries
Age
85
Place of Birth
Barama, Chittagong, Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh
Place of Death
Santiniketan, West Bengal, India
Spouse(s)
Reba hore
Children
Daughter chandana hore
State Country of Birth
Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh
State Country of Death
West Bengal, India

Exhibitions

  1. 1960

    1. Lugano International Graphics Biennale, Switzerland
  2. 1962

    1. Print Biennale Tokyo, Japan
    2. Venice Biennale, Italy
  3. 1963

    1. Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
  4. 1968

    1. Biennale of Graphic Arts, Warsaw, Poland
    2. Kolkata, India
    3. First Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
  5. 1979

    1. Somnath Hore Sculpture, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
  6. 1980

  7. 1982

    1. Group Show, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
  8. 1984

  9. 1985

  10. 1986

    1. Visions, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, India
  11. 1987

  12. 1991

    1. National Exposition of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
  13. 1992

    1. 04 Jan 1992 to 24 Jan 1992

  14. 1993

    1. Wounds, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
    2. Wounds, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
  15. 1995

    1. Masterworks Collection of E. Alkazi, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
    2. 08 Nov 1995 to 26 Nov 1995

  16. 1996

    1. Contemporary Indian Paintings from the Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection Part II, USA
  17. 1997

    1. Intuitive Logic: A Festival of Indian Contemporary Painting, presented by The Tuli Foundation for Holistic Education & Art (HEART), National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India

      01 Mar 1997 to 19 Apr 1997

    2. Somnath Hore—A Retrospective , Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
  18. 1998

    1. 09 Feb 1998

  19. 1999

    1. 07 Jan 1999 to 19 Jan 1999

  20. 2001

    1. 07 Aug 2001 to 14 Aug 2001

  21. 2002

    1. Art Today, New Delhi, India

      01 Aug 2002 to 08 Aug 2002

    2. A Historical Epic: India in the Making 1757-1950, Curated Exhibition and Auction by Neville Tuli, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai, India

      19 Jul 2002 to 27 Jul 2002

  22. 2003

    1. Manifestations, Organised by Delhi Art Gallery at World Trade Centre, Mumbai; Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
  23. 2004

    1. Manifestations II: Indian Art in the 20th Century, Presented by Delhi Art Gallery at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, India

      25 Jul 2004 to 31 Jul 2004

    2. The Underlying Spirit, The Inaugural Exhibition from the Osian's Archive Collection, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India

      09 Nov 2004 to 18 Nov 2004

  24. 2005

    1. Revisualising India, From The Osian's Archive & Library Collection, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India

      16 Aug 2005 to 02 Sep 2005

    2. Golden Jubilee: Spirit set Free, Kumar Gallery Fifty Years, New Delhi, India

      28 Oct 2005 to 30 Dec 2005

  25. 2007

    1. Project 88, Mumbai, India

      19 Jun 2007 to 06 Jul 2007

    2. 13 Apr 2007 to 05 May 2007

  26. 2008

    1. Moderns, Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Embassy of India, Amman, Jordan
    2. The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata, India
    3. Freedom 2008: Sixty Years of Indian Independence, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
  27. 2009

    1. Somnath Hore, Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata, India
40 of 100
Alkazi, Ebrahim (Editor). Art Heritage, 1979-1980 | Journal
1 / 11

Alkazi, Ebrahim (Editor). Art Heritage, 1979-1980 | Journal

Chronicled Highlights 211960 – 2024

Somnath Hore — Barama, Chittagong, Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh.
1960
Public Auction HighGraphic Art
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 Mother And Child (1960), 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 ₹15,60,000 ($35,318). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Mother And Child, 1960 | Graphic Art
Selling price
INR15,60,000
56% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 8,00,000 – 10,00,000
Rate per sq in
INR 9,468
Medium
Paper Collage
Dimensions
15 × 11 in (38 × 28 cm)
Lot
60 · Os.Mum/31.01.07
1968
Public Auction HighPrint
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 Untitled (1968), 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 ₹50,400 ($1,161). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Untitled, 1968 | Print
Selling price
INR50,400
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 50,000 – 75,000
Rate per sq in
INR 76.49
Medium
Woodcut coloured print
Dimensions
21.5 × 30.7 in (55 × 78 cm)
Lot
267 · He.Del/28.11.99
1977
Literary ReferencePainting
Osian's · India: The Passionate Detachment: Curated Auctions of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art and BooksMumbai · 24 February 2001
In everything he sees, he reads its gesture of tragedy. So in a crack in the earth, he sees a dire menace. In fissures in the wall, he recalls a gaping wound. Even in sensuous fantasies are sewn up in a skin of suffering. Lean bodies of men and women huddled in wan despair… they do not repel our eye; they draw us in. His artistry gives each item its kind of appeal; the sharpness of bone, the tightness of skin, the deadness of eyes, the muteness of mouths, the limp inertia of the folded body. They entice the eye in and lacerate it.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Family, 1977 | Painting
Selling price
INR90,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 1,00,000 – 1,50,000
Rate per sq in
INR 690
Medium
Watercolour on board
Dimensions
9.7 × 13.5 in (25 × 34 cm)
Lot
16 · Os.Mum/24.02.01
1979
Public Auction HighDrawing
Sotheby's · Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian PaintingsNew York · 24 March 2004
In 2004, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Wounds (1979), offered in the Indian and Southeast Asian Art: Including Modern Indian Paintings by Sotheby's, which concluded on 24 March 2004 at New York, achieving a sale price of ₹3,49,128 ($7,800). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Wounds, 1979 | Drawing
Selling price
INR3,49,128
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 3,13,320 – 4,47,600
Rate per sq in
INR 781
Medium
Handmade Caste paper
Dimensions
19 × 23.5 in (48 × 60 cm)
Lot
193 · So.NeY/24.03.04
1981
Literary ReferenceSculpture
Osian's · Indian Antiquities, Modern and Contemporary Fine ArtsMumbai · 19 June 2015
In varying degrees in his sculptures, prints and paintings, besides the haunting sight of an anguished struggle, it is a sustained feeling of the possibility of endurance and hope that permeates the work of Somnath Hore, whereby all is not altogether bleak. The work-process allows technicalities to lead on to a more forceful statement of sensitive emotive contents...rescuing them from immediate topicality, thereby harnessing experience into expression.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Seated Girl, 1981 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR18,00,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,000 – 22,50,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
11.9 × 8.3 × 4.3 in (30 × 21 × 11 cm)
Lot
66 · Os.Mum/19.06.15
1981
Literary ReferenceSculpture
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtOnline · 27 August 2022
The folds of skin, the bony skeletal forms remained embedded in Hore’s consciousness. It was a figuration that he repeated all his life – even in his sculpture. At the same time there was something undaunted even heroic about these figures. As if man emerges triumphant despite his vulnerabilities, despite the trials and tribulations that life has in store.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Dancing Baul Singer, early 1980s | Sculpture
Selling price
INR21,28,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 24,00,000 – 36,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
18.9 × 8.7 × 3.3 in (48 × 22 × 8 cm)
Lot
26 · De.Onl/27.08.22
1982
Literary ReferenceSculpture
DeRivaz & Ives · Inaugural Masterpieces SeriesOnline · 19 November 2022
The human image in Somnath Hore, including that in the later sculptures, is vulnerable and timid, already rendered energy-less due to weight of the circumstances and the hunger. They cannot resist the outside pressures. They only suffer and offer easy targets for inflicting suffering. They are epitomes of fear and have only each other to give some solace. The elemental forms, for example the stick-like arms and legs are appropriate to his imagery. They resemble bones and at the same time work as armature to hold the sculptural form together.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Mother & Child, 1982 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR40,32,000
Below low estimate
Estimate
INR 60,00,000 – 90,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
14.4 × 6.8 × 3.5 in (37 × 17 × 9 cm)
Lot
16 · De.Onl/19.11.22
1982
Literary ReferenceSculpture
DeRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtOnline · 17 February 2024
I, Reba Hore, wife of Somnath Hore have sold this beautiful piece of art - ‘Husband & wife accompanying baby goat’ to Shri Sanad Kumar Chowdhury which was created by my husband. (‘Chowdhury Bari’, Bhadharhati, Pin code – 712301). The height of this bronze sculpture is approx. 21 inches and width is approx. 13 inches. Today’s date – 13.07.1995
Reba
1995
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Husband and Wife accompanying Baby Goat, 1982 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR1,00,80,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 80,00,000 – 1,20,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
20.9 × 13.4 × 11 in (53 × 34 × 28 cm)
Lot
31 · De.Onl/17.02.24
Provenance
Acquired directly as part of a collection of ten bronzes from Somnath & Reba Hore by Shri Sanad Kumar Chowdhury (Chowdhury Bari - Bhadharhati) in 1992. [Please see attached letter from Reba Hore to Chowdhury family in image carousel].
1985
Public Auction HighSculpture
Asta Guru · Modern Indian ArtOnline · 20 December 2020
In 2020, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Dog (1985), offered in the Modern Indian Art by Asta Guru, which concluded on 20 December 2020 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹1,14,83,795 ($155,924.32). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Dog, 1985 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR1,14,83,795
359% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 20,00,000 – 25,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
7.5 × 10.2 × 5 in (19 × 26 × 13 cm)
Lot
11 · AG.Onl/20.12.20
1985
Public Auction HighSculpture
Pundole · The Fine Art Sale: Works from the Glenbarra Art Museum and the Pundole Family CollectionMumbai · 31 August 2023
In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Old Miner (1985), offered in the The Fine Art Sale: Works from the Glenbarra Art Museum and the Pundole Family Collection by Pundole, which concluded on 31 August 2023 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹1,70,00,000 ($205,615.98). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Old Miner, 1985 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR1,70,00,000
467% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 20,00,000 – 30,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
5.7 in (15 cm)
Lot
47 · Pu.Mum/31.08.23
Provenance
From the Glenbarra Art Museum and the Pundole Family Collection, Mumbai
1985
Public Auction HighSculpture
Pundole · The Fine Art SaleMumbai · 27 March 2025
In 2025, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Brother and Sister (1985), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 27 March 2025 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹4,50,00,000 ($524,714.03). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Brother and Sister, 1985 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR4,50,00,000
275% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 80,00,000 – 1,20,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
10.7 in (27 cm)
Signature
Signed 'Somnath' and dated indistinctly '..5' on reverse
Lot
45 · Pu.Mum/27.03.25
1988
Public Auction HighSculpture
Bowrings · European and Modern and Contemporary Indian PaintingsNew Delhi · 20 November 2002
In 2002, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of The Battered Head Of A Horse (1988), offered in the European and Modern and Contemporary Indian Paintings by Bowrings, which concluded on 20 November 2002 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹3,00,000 ($6,223). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). The Battered Head Of A Horse, 1988 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR3,00,000
Within estimate
Estimate
INR 2,50,000 – 3,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
11 in (28 cm)
Lot
199 · Bow.Del/20.11.02
1988
Public Auction HighSculpture
Asta Guru · Modern TreasuresOnline · 02 September 2023
In 2023, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Head (1988), offered in the Modern Treasures by Asta Guru, which concluded on 02 September 2023 at Online, achieving a sale price of ₹1,72,59,349 ($208,787.16). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Head, 1988 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR1,72,59,349
763% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 15,00,000 – 20,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
6.7 × 4 × 3 in (17 × 10 × 8 cm)
Lot
38 · AG.Onl/02.09.23
1991
Public Auction HighSculpture
Pundole · The Fine Art SaleMumbai · 12 March 2026
In 2026, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Brothers (1991), offered in the The Fine Art Sale by Pundole, which concluded on 12 March 2026 at Mumbai, achieving a sale price of ₹5,00,00,000 ($541,400.93). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Brothers, 1991 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR5,00,00,000
100% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 1,50,00,000 – 2,50,00,000
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
11.5 × 8.6 in (29 × 22 cm)
Signature
Initialled and dated 'S H / 91 S H / 91' on reverse
Lot
46 · Pu.Onl/12.03.26
Provenance
Gifted by the artist to the current owner in 2005.
1995
Public Auction HighSculpture
Sotheby's · South Asian Art: Including Property from The Dartington Hall TrustLondon · 15 June 2010
In 2010, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of The Khajani Player (1995), offered in the South Asian Art: Including Property from The Dartington Hall Trust by Sotheby's, which concluded on 15 June 2010 at London, achieving a sale price of ₹1,07,99,788 ($231,110). 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). The Khajani Player, 1995 | Sculpture
Selling price
INR1,07,99,788
5% above high estimate
Estimate
INR 89,28,283 – 1,03,01,865
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
49.2 × 37.8 in (125 × 96 cm)
Lot
73 · So.Lon/15.06.10
Provenance
Dartington Hall Trust, Devon, U.K.
1997
Image 1/2
First Auction Appearance | BOOK.AUCSculpture
Sotheby's · The Indian SaleLondon · 08 May 1997
On 08 May 1997, Somnath Hore made their debut in the Indian public auction market when Monkey was presented as Lot 384 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.
Hore, Somnath (Artist). Monkey, n.d. | Sculpture
Medium
Bronze
Lot
384 · So.Lon/08.05.97
2018
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Pr.Onl/25.10.18Auction Catalogue
Prinseps · Modern & Contemporary AuctionMumbai · 25 October 2018
In 2018, an artwork by Somnath Hore was featured on the cover of Prinseps: Modern & Contemporary Auction (October 2018, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
Prinseps (Auction House). Modern & Contemporary Auction. 25 October 2018 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
44
Lots sold
27 · 61%
Pages
117
Lot
Pr.Onl/25.10.18
2020
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | AG.Onl/28.06.20Auction Catalogue
Asta Guru · Modern Indian Art-No Reserve AuctionMumbai · 28 June 2020
In 2020, an artwork by Somnath Hore was featured on the cover of Asta Guru: Modern Indian Art-No Reserve Auction (June 2020, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
Asta Guru (Auction House). Modern Indian Art-No Reserve Auction. 28 June 2020 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
102
Lots sold
102 · 100%
Lot
AG.Onl/28.06.20
2022
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | Pr.Onl/30.04.22Auction Catalogue
Prinseps · Somnath Hore Centenary AuctionMumbai · 30 April 2022
In 2022, an artwork by Somnath Hore was featured on the cover of Prinseps: Somnath Hore Centenary Auction (April 2022, Mumbai), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
Prinseps (Auction House) and Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil (Curator). Somnath Hore Centenary Auction. 30 April 2022 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
68
Lots sold
48 · 71%
Lot
Pr.Onl/30.04.22
2023
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | De.Onl/04.02.23Auction Catalogue
deRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtNew Delhi · 04 February 2023
In 2023, an artwork by Somnath Hore was featured on the cover of deRivaz & Ives: Indian Modern Art (February 2023, New Delhi), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
deRivaz & Ives (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Indian Modern Art. 04 February 2023 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
24
Lots sold
16 · 67%
Pages
81
Lot
De.Onl/04.02.23
2024
Featured on Auction Catalogue Cover | De.Onl/17.02.24Auction Catalogue
deRivaz & Ives · Indian Modern ArtNew Delhi · 17 February 2024
In 2024, an artwork by Somnath Hore was featured on the cover of deRivaz & Ives: Indian Modern Art (February 2024, New Delhi), marking a documented highlight in the artist's public and auction market visibility.
deRivaz & Ives (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Indian Modern Art. 17 February 2024 | Auction Catalogue
Lots offered
34
Lots sold
29 · 85%
Pages
101
Lot
De.Onl/17.02.24

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 Somnath Hore’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 Somnath Hore’s public auction market presence.

Average Sale Price Per Lot

This measure calculates the Average Sale Price of all lots by Somnath Hore 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 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.

Calendar 2

  1. All Living Souls
    ArchivedExhibitionProject 79
    All Living Souls
    Expressed in Modern & Contemporary Fine and Popular Arts | Curated by Neville Tuli
    6th - 11th May 2026
    10:30am - 7:30pm
    Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003
    +5 more
  2. All Living Souls
    ArchivedOpening PreviewProject 78
    All Living Souls
    Expressed in Modern & Contemporary Fine and Popular Arts | Curated by Neville Tuli
    5th May 2026
    6:00pm - 9:00pm
    Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110003
    +5 more

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