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

155 THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 111 ChittApRoSAD [ 1915-1978/ b . Naihati, West Bengal] Ration shop Tempera on handmade cardboard, 1945 78.0 x 56.5 cm (30.7 x 22.2 in) Rs. 350,000 – 425,000 $ 7,550 – 9,200 £ 4,150 – 5,025 ‘He moved away from the subject of war and famine and worked on paintings of historical and secular themes… He used to do a lot of paintings of the common people of Bombay – such as fisherman, vegetable seller, boys and girls, men and women labourers… He did a lot of paintings during this time which were highly praised both in this country and abroad.’ – Somnath Hore, rpt. in Chittaprosad. Center Art Gallery/ Chitrakoot Art Gallery 1992 ExC. 112 Rabin MoNDAL [b . 1932, Howrah, West Bengal] Family S/d in English on verso Oil on canvas, 1990 152.5 x 114.0 cm (60.0 x 44.9 in) Rs. 300,000 – 400,000 $ 6,500 – 8,650 £ 3,550 – 4,725 Modernism implies a discarding of mythical structures, but the residual elements of myths still exist not only amongst religious but intellectuals too. To communicate your experience aesthetically you have to reverse the process of demythologization and to revitalize myths once more. Perhaps the human fear of disorder, chaos and the complexity of life can only be related through myths. In my work I try visually to relate myths to existential uprootedness and disruption, I do not work from any particular myth but the general mythical feelings about creation, sin and propitiation- eschatology. I am not talking about the disorder that is set in motion by the misuse of political power, but also pointing out what the abuse of technology has inflicted on us.’ – Rabin Mondal, rpt. in Art heritage Journal 7 1987-88; p12.