Magazine: Buying Guides, Research, and Videos

Understanding Indian Sculpture

Sculptures are increasingly becoming popular investment grade collectables. In some modern South Asian art auctions at the end of 2018 Sadanand Bakre, Prodosh Dasgupta and Adi Davierwala sculptures were sold for record-breaking prices. To appreciate modern sculpture it is important to understand the origins of classical Indian sculpture.

Director's Note - PRINSEPS

Our Policies We guarantee authenticity! We have a seven-day return policy if any work sold is not as described. This return policy is a window into our rigorous processes and checks. Compare us to others and all the fine print and exclusions at the largest of the auction houses, the most prestigious of galleries, and luxury vendors—we have NONE! There is no fine print, and there are no exclusions. If we sell a product that is not as described, you return it to us within seven days—simple!

Art 101 : When Was Modernism?

It is generally acknowledged that modernism in European art begins with Cezanne and Picasso.

Can Art be an Alternative Asset?

There is little doubt that Art (primarily consisting of paintings and sculptures) is an investment asset. It has been further argued that Art is also an alternative asset, implying that returns (from Art) have a low correlation with the stock markets and, if included in one's investment portfolio, improves the risk-reward profile (increase the Sharpe ratio).

Jamini Roy's Ballygunge Residence

Jamini Roy's earlier residence at 1/2B Ananda Kumar Chatterjee lane in North Kolkata was his home for sixteen years.

Of Meatwallahs, Bulls & Butchers

Studies related to anatomy, animals, carcasses. skulls have been integral part of art since time immemorial. Somnath Hore's Meatwallah is an exceptionally rare and important canvas of a similar genre. Similar works by other artists include.

Calcutta 1920s Academic Painters

In the midst of the triumph of Orientalists lead by E.B. Havell, the principal of the Government Art School in Calcutta, and Abanindranath Tagore, naturalism re-emerged in the 1920s in Calcutta partly due to Percy Brown's encouragement and because of the rise of the artists such as Hemendranath Majumdar.

An Anish Kapoor - Oh My Gourd!

Anish Kapoor's biomorphic sculptures support his Hindu beliefs of a sexualised cosmos.

Prinseps Design Philosophy

The design elements chosen for Prinseps rely heavily on the genesis of its name. The design is heavily inspired by antiquities and by the Brahmi script.

Prinseps : Genesis of the Name

The name Prinseps stems from two parallel tracks, both bearing immense significance to history and collectibles.

Somnath Hore(1921 - 2006) Overview

"Man's history is waiting in patience for the triumph of the insulted man,Triumph he had, but at a terrible price. With the subcontinent at war, and the new-born land still wracked by bone-shattering poverty, the joy in Bangladesh was necessarily tempered by sorrow.” - Rabindranath Tagore)

A Book by a 'Raja'

Here we discuss the book 'The Ten Principal Avataras of the Hindus' by Sourindra Mohun Tagore

Sculptures and Legitimate Editions

What is a legitimate bronze cast or edition? One that is sanctioned by the artist and with the use of the artist's original/master.

Philately - Pre-SG1 Jasdan

Philately or stamp collecting is a great hobby as it is an interesting mix of history and technical studies. The usual areas of interest among collectors include the early issues of a country/state or errors.

Misreading Dhanraj Bhagat's Durga

Dhanraj Bhagat, a master sculptor and Padma Shri recipient, was active in Delhi during the mid-1940s to the 1960s. Two of his sculptures (Reunion-1947 and Three Women-1953) are listed as belonging to the collection of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

Valuing V S Gaitonde' Canvases

This an analysis of Vasudeo Gaitonde's auction realizations. Since about the time of the Guggenheim exhibition, his prices have seen exponential increases with comparisons being made to Mark Rothko.

The Early Pyne Vs. The Late Pyne

The contradiction in Ganesh Pyne's oeuvre refers to the change in style and theme which occurred around the time of his marriage to Meera di in the 1990s. The discussion around "Early Pyne" vs. "Late Pyne" also distills down to the same issue.

The Contemporary Art Market

India's Indigenous Modernism

In India modernism starts due to a desire to move away from the academic art being practiced and advanced by the British. Abanindranath Tagore, Jamini Roy were the earliest of the Indigenous modernists.

Jamini Roy And His Painting Mediums

It is well documented that Jamini Roy was an academic portrait painter in the early days using oil paints. His experiments in the style of "Bengal school" and Academic portraiture is amply recorded.