Osian's Auction Catalogue The Masterpieces and Museum Quality Series | October 2004

103 THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 69 K.S. KULKARNI [1918–94/ b . Belgaum, Karnataka] Figure in Landscape Signed in English l.r. Oil on canvas, c .1984 158.0 x 207.0 cm (62.2 x 81.5 in) Rs. 700,000 – 800,000 $ 15,100 – 17,300 £ 8,275 – 9,475 ‘Kulkarni has done outstanding work in portraiture and mural painting but his most original contributions are his figure compositions. In the treatment of human figures, he combines the decorative elegance of classical Indian painting – inspired by the frescoes of Ajanta and Ellora – with the vitality and vigour of the Modernists. But he does not go to extremes, or potter with formal inventiveness for its novelty. His work apparently stands half way between representation and abstraction. His sense of discipline is keen, and he has a profound understanding of tradition. Nevertheless, he constantly explores new angles of style and presentation.’ – Art Critic, rpt. in The Illustrated Weekly 1966. a b c Select Works of the 1960s