Osian's Auction Catalogue India The Passionate Detachment | February 2001

SEEDS OF MODERNISM 95 51 Kalighat Patas a. Courtesan Gouache on paper, late 1920s 46.2 x 30.0 cm. (18.2 x 11.8”) b. Babu and his Mistress Gouache on paper, late 1920s 39.6 x 30.0 cm. (15.6 x 11.8”) Rs. 125,000 - 175,000 $ 2,660 - 3,725 (Set of 2) “ The Calcutta dandy, called babu, in his milk white dhoti, panjabi and chaddar, black palm shoes, combed hair and twisted moustache, provided a major theme with his neglected wife at home and adulated mistress at ill-famed quarters.” (A.K.Bhattacharya, in Calcutta Paintings 1994 . p38). for Lot 51a PAPR Lot 4 Bo.Lon/ 11.07.00 Kalighat School A Courtesan Holding a Fan, early 20th century 52 x 41 cm. ASP: £ 720/ Rs. 48,240 (£1 = Rs. 67.00) “ The name ‘Kalighat Pata’ is applied to a class of paintings and drawings on paper produced by a group of artists called patuas in the neighbourhood of the famous Kali temple at Kalighat, now a part of Calcutta. The art activities of these patuas, which shared some common technical and stylistic characteristics, developed into an industry turning out a great number of pictures to meet popular demand of pilgrims and others. The artists selected as their themes for delineation popular Hindu deities, incarnations and saints, epic and puranic anecdotes, historical events, incidents of daily life, social skits and different species of Indian fauna.” (B.N.Mukherjee, in Album of Art Treasures, No.III: Kalighat Patas. Indian Museum 1987 ). for Lot 51b PAPR Lot 10 Bo.Lon/ 11.07.00 Kalighat School A Babu with a Courtesan, early 20th century 35.5 x 25 cm. ASP: £ 1,050/ Rs. 70,350 (£1 = Rs. 67.00) a b