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

116 OSIAN ’ s–CONNOISSEURS OF ART 77 M.Reddapa NAIDU [ 1932- 1999/ b . Kapulapalem, Godavari, Andhra Pradesh] Workers Oil on paper, 1957 45.5 x 64.0 cm (17.9 x 25.2 in) Rs. 150,000 – 225,000 $ 3,250 – 4,850 £ 1,775 – 2,675 ‘Redeppa Naidu… saw in impressionist’s work, at least remotely, the possibility of total figuration…. It is his native figurative sense that is manifest in the way he crafts his painting: working up, as he does, a fragile free-standing almost calligraphic patterns in free line and colour. In the finely equivocal aspect that arises is the figure. It diverts us instantly to something like an unconfined but picturesque presence.’ – Josef James, rpt. in LKC 35 September 1987 ; p14. ‘A notable feature of the art institution where Redappa studied from 1955-1960 was that it provided an ambience for free experimentation. The students were allowed a free ride with their creative experimentation …Consequent to this freedom, Redappa Naidu delighted in rendering the genre of routine activities observed at local markets, by the sea-side, the activities of street urchins, cockfights, or jostling women at the water tap. He rendered these scenes impressionistically, capturing spontaneously the spirit of the moment with broad strokes in palette knife.’ – Ashrafi S.Bhagat, rpt. in Cholamandal: An Artist’s Village OUP 2004; p288.