Somnath Hore | Tuli Research Centre for India Studies

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

1960
1. Lugano International Graphics Biennale, Switzerland
1962
1. Print Biennale Tokyo, Japan
2. Venice Biennale, Italy
1963
1. Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
1968
1. Biennale of Graphic Arts, Warsaw, Poland
2. Kolkata, India
3. First Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
1979
1. Somnath Hore Sculpture, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1980
1982
1. Group Show, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1984
1985
1986
1. Visions, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, India
1987
1991
1. National Exposition of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
1992
1. 04 Jan 1992 to 24 Jan 1992
1993
1. Wounds, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
2. Wounds, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
1995
1. Masterworks Collection of E. Alkazi, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
2. 08 Nov 1995 to 26 Nov 1995
1996
1. Contemporary Indian Paintings from the Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection Part II, USA
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
1998
1. 09 Feb 1998
1999
1. 07 Jan 1999 to 19 Jan 1999
2001
1. 07 Aug 2001 to 14 Aug 2001
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
2003
1. Manifestations, Organised by Delhi Art Gallery at World Trade Centre, Mumbai; Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
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
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
2007
1. Project 88, Mumbai, India
  19 Jun 2007 to 06 Jul 2007
2. 13 Apr 2007 to 05 May 2007
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
2009
1. Somnath Hore, Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata, India

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

1968
1. Kolkata, India
1979
1. Somnath Hore Sculpture, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1980
1984
1987
1992
1. 04 Jan 1992 to 24 Jan 1992
1993
1995
1. 08 Nov 1995 to 26 Nov 1995
1997
1. Somnath Hore—A Retrospective , Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1998
1. 09 Feb 1998
1999
1. 07 Jan 1999 to 19 Jan 1999
2007
1. Project 88, Mumbai, India
  19 Jun 2007 to 06 Jul 2007
2. 13 Apr 2007 to 05 May 2007
2009
1. Somnath Hore, Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata, India
2. 14 Nov 2009 to 28 Nov 2009
2010
1. 27 Feb 2010 to 18 Mar 2010
2013
1. Wounds, Akar Prakar, India Art Fair 2013; New Delhi, India
  31 Jan 2013 to 03 Feb 2013
2016
1. Somnath Hore: Lithographs, Etchings, Drawings, Pulp Prints, and Sculptures, Akar Prakar, Kolkata, India
  11 Jan 2016 to 21 Feb 2016
2020
1. Horescope: Somnath Hore, Akara Art, Mumbai, India
  09 Jul 2020 to 31 Jul 2020

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

1960
1. Lugano International Graphics Biennale, Switzerland
1962
1. Print Biennale Tokyo, Japan
2. Venice Biennale, Italy
1963
1. Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
1968
1. Biennale of Graphic Arts, Warsaw, Poland
2. First Triennale India, Lalit Kala Akademi, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi, India
1982
1. Group Show, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1985
1986
1. Visions, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata, India
1991
1. National Exposition of Contemporary Art, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
1993
1. Wounds, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
2. Wounds, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India
1995
1. Masterworks Collection of E. Alkazi, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
1996
1. Contemporary Indian Paintings from the Chester and Davida Herwitz Collection Part II, USA
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
2001
1. 07 Aug 2001 to 14 Aug 2001
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
2003
1. Manifestations, Organised by Delhi Art Gallery at World Trade Centre, Mumbai; Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
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
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
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
2009
1. Wound, Aicon Gallery, New York, USA
2. Modern Continuous, Galerie 88, Kolkata, India
2010
1. Bodies that Matter— Drawings and Washes by Somnath Hore, Art Heritage, New Delhi, India
2011
1. Manifestations VI, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
  24 Oct 2011 to 24 Dec 2011
2012
1. Crossings: Time Unfolded, Part 2, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi, India
  23 Jan 2012 to 19 Dec 2012
3. Jamini Roy & Somnath Hore: Figuration in the Bengal School: Part II, Wound and Rust Series Exhibited for the First Time Ever in the U.S., Aicon Gallery,New York USA
4. Calcutta Chromosome, The Viewing Room, Mumbai, India
2013
1. Transition, 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata, India
  05 Jul 1905
2. Hunger, Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata, India
3. Manifestations X: 75 artists, 20th Century Indian Art, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, India
  30 Dec 2013 to 08 Mar 2014
2014
1. Indian Abstracts: An Absence of Form, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi, india
2. An Unfinished Portrait, Vignettes from the KNMA collection, Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Noida, India
  23 Jan 2014 to 30 Nov 2014
3. Indian Abstracts, An Absence Of Form, Delhi Art Gallery (DAG) New Delhi, India
  11 Aug 2014 to 30 Sep 2014

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Grey Art Gallery and Study Center (Organiser) and Thomas W. Sokolowski (Director). Contemporary Indian Art, 1985 | Group Exhibition Catalogue | 00883528

Chronicled Highlights

23 entries

Born

Somnath Hore

Somnath Hore — Barama, Chittagong, Undivided India | Present-day Bangladesh.

Hore, Somnath (Artist). Mother And Child. Paper Collage, 1960 | Graphic Art | FineArts | 00561047

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). Untitled. Woodcut coloured print, 1968 | Print | 00877594

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). Family. Watercolour on board, 1977 | Painting | FineArts | 00371616

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). Wounds. Handmade Caste paper, 1979 | Drawing | FineArts | 00600112

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). Untitled. Watercolour and crayon on paper, 1981 | Painting | FineArts | 00561050

In 2007, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled (1981), 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 ₹8,40,000 ($19,017). 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). Seated Girl. Bronze, 1981 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00332112

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). Dancing Baul Singer. Bronze, early 1980s | Sculpture | FineArts | 00418025

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). Mother & Child. Bronze, 1982 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00419207

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). Husband and Wife accompanying Baby Goat. Bronze, 1982 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00362271

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). Dog. Bronze, 1985 | Sculpture | 00868126

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). Old Miner. Bronze, 1985 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00355169

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). Brother and Sister. Bronze, 1985 | Sculpture | EconomicsArt | 00869970

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). The Battered Head Of A Horse. Bronze, 1988 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00376010

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). Head. Bronze, 1988 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00355240

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). Brothers. Bronze, 1991 | Sculpture | EconomicsArt | 00872539

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). Untitled Sketchbook (24 Pages). Sketch pen on paper, 1992 | Drawing | FineArts | 00575763

In 2008, the artist achieved a new high in the auction market with the sale of Untitled Sketchbook (24 Pages) (1992), offered in the The ABC Series IV: Art | Book | Cinema by Osian's, which concluded on 15 July 2008 at New Delhi, achieving a sale price of ₹21,00,000 ($48,645). 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. Bronze, 1995 | Sculpture | FineArts | 00755685

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.

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Sotheby's (Auction House). The Indian Sale. 08 May 1997, London | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00861850

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.

Prinseps (Auction House). Modern & Contemporary Auction. 25 October 2018, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862290

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.

Asta Guru (Auction House). Modern Indian Art-No Reserve Auction. 28 June 2020, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862349

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.

Prinseps (Auction House) and Brijeshwari Kumari Gohil (Curator). Somnath Hore Centenary Auction - Works on Paper. 30 April 2022, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862423

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.

deRivaz & Ives (Auction House) and Neville Tuli (Curator). Indian Modern Art. 04 February 2023, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862462

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. 17 February 2024, Online | Auction Catalogue | EconomicsArt | 00862506

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.

Economics of Art

Research Centre

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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_FineArts 4_PopCulture 16_Continuum
A.L. Syed Abanindranath Tagore Amit Ambalal Amitava Das Anita Dube Benode Behari Mukherjee Bhupen P. Khakhar Bireshwar Sen +37 more
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