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

81 MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY III 32 PROKASH KARMAKAR (b.1933 / Calcutta, West Bengal) Oh Calcutta Series (Set of 20) Each painting from the ‘Oh Calcutta Series’ is given a further title as follows: a. Dacoit ‘Kalkattawali’; b. Brothel Sonagachi; c. College St., Coffee House (Adda); d. Kalighat Temple; e. Victoria / Calcutta Maidan; f. Koomartuli / Calcutta; g. G.P.O. / Dalhaousi Square; h. Vidyasagar College, College Street; i. Maidan / Calcutta; j. Writers Building / B.B.D. Bag.; k. ‘Satyapir’ Lalin of Esplanade; l. Sealdha Main Station; m. Dockyard–Khidirpur; n. Botanical Garden / Howrah; o. Rly. Station–Sealdha Platform; p. Kew ratala Burning Ghat; q. Kumartoli, Idol Maker; r. The Dead Dock–Khidirpur; s. Brothel Harkata Lane; t. Dakhineswar. Each is signed in Bengali and dated in English. Inscribed on verso. Acrylic on canvas, 1998–9 a.-r. 91.5 x 76.2 cm (36.0 x 30.0 in) s.-t. 76.2 x 101.9 cm (30 x 40.1 in) Rs. 2,000,000 – 2,500,000 US$ 44,450 – 55,550 GB£ 24,400 – 30,500 (Set of 20) OSIANs S.I.R. ANALYSIS [2001–03] Present Estimate 91.37 Previous High 291.09 [Sa.com/16.05.02] Previous Average 175.40 Auction Average 289.84 Opinion One of the most under-rated artists in Indian contemporary art. Once some of the very best works of Prokash Karmakar are seen by the collecting public and a significant publication on his career reaches the bookstores, his artistic merit will be recognised, hence inevitably his Average S.I.R. will reach 350–400 by early 2006. Further, recent private transactions regarding certain key works by the artist have occurred at a significantly higher level than his auction prices.