Osian's Auction Catalogue Masterpieces and Museum-Quality III | March 2004

46 OSIAN’S 14 ABANINDRANATH TAGORE (1871-1951 / b. Calcutta, West Bengal) National Art Treasure My Childhood Attempt (at Acting) Signed in English l.l. and signed & titled in Bengali on verso Watercolour on thin muslin cloth, c.1914 24.5 x 15.5 cm (9.6 x 6.1 in) Minor preservation work will be required to consolidate the paper. Tear in the t.r. corner with some fraying of edges in the lower section of the work. Slight creases in the l.c. and t.r. sections of the painting. Provenance Private Collector, Kolkata; acquired from the grandson of Abanindranath Tagore Rs. 325,000 – 400,000 Non-Exportable Lot OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [1997-2002] Present Estimate 5,549.86 Previous Highs 21,295.88 [So.NY/22.09.00] 9,987.52 [So.NY/16.09.99] Previous Average 4,159.59 (for works on paper) Opinion One of the great masters of Indian modern & contemporary art still finds it difficult to establish the deserved recognition within India. Naturally, as a non- exportable item, it commands a premium in the international market for those works already circulating outside India. However, sooner or later, the domestic market will mature and recognise that works of Abanindranath Tagore, even of varying qualities, deserve a much higher financial valuation, given his deep artistic originality, historical significance and rarity.