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

47 MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY III SAMARENDRANATH GUPTA Kashmir Etching, mid 1930s “Like their uncles both these brothers had great histrionic ability and invariably acted in the staging of Rabindranath’s plays, some of which were put up in their house. The success of them was in no small measure to their setting, décor and costumes which was invariably their task. The part of Raja would be specially chalked out for Gaganendranath and Abanindranath excelled in comic roles. From photographs we know both of them took part in Dakghar (1917) and Phalguni (1916). Earlier and other performances of Gaganendranath are not recorded. As a youth Abanindranath played a role in Jyotirindranath Tagore’s Alik Babu , a farcical play now revived in Calcutta after many decades. He also acted in the following plays of Rabindranath: as a robber in Valmiki-Prathibha (in which Rabindranath himself played Valmiki), as Tinkari in Vaikunther Khata , Thakurda in Saradotsav and on one occasion in Raja O Rani .” (Dr. Ratan Parimoo, rpt. ibid ; p.50.) Please also refer to B/w illustration, Plate 50, from ‘Bengal Actors’ series, rpt. ibid . “…an effect of density is found in a series of paintings from 1915, namely the ‘Bengal Actors’ set and that based on Phalguni. The actors are also outlined but their somewhat jaggy contours following the natural breaks and undulations of the human silhouette, together with tone gradations give them a heaviness distinguishing this set for being neither too literary nor overtly delicate. They also have a richer colour.” (Dr. Ratan Parimoo, rpt. in The Paintings of the Three Tagores – Abanindranath, Gaganendranath, Rabindranath: Chronology and Comparative Study 1975; p.82.) NANDALAL BOSE Sankara & disciples Tempera on paper, 1953 KSHITINDRANTH MAZUMDAR Radha returns from the Jamuna Watercolour & pencil heightened with body-colour on paper, 1918 ASIT KUMAR HALDAR Kabuliwala Tempera on paper, early 1940s