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Art History 101: What is Modernism?

The Tate Modern states that Modernism refers to a global movement in society and culture that from the early decades of the twentieth century sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life.

What is Abstract Expressionism?

New York City was home to the founders of abstract expressionism. These artists became known as the New York school as a result. They were inspired by the surrealist idea that art should come from the unconscious mind. Within abstract expressionism were two broad groupings: the action painters - who attacked their canvases with expressive brush strokes and and the colour field painters - who filled their canvases with large areas of a single colour.

Bimal Dasgupta(1917–95) Overview

Bimal Dasgupta (1917 – 1995) was one of the front runners of watercolor traditions in Indian art during the second half of the twentieth century. His of the medium expanded the possibilities of painting methods, beyond the components of academic realism that was instructed in art schools

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).

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.

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.

Jamini Roy's Studio: The Myth

Jamini Roy's studio from the 40's basically consisted only of his son Amiya (nicknamed to 'potol' in the classic Bengali Daak naam tradition of coming up with the most silly nicknames that one can find) and another (of last name Chatterjee) whose job was to mix and create the tempera.