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

77 THE MASTERPIECES & MUSEUM-QUALITY SERIES 47 Prodosh DAS GUPTA [ 1912-1991/ b .Dacca, present- day Bangladesh] Figure Bronze on wooden base Casting has been completed after the death of the artist from his original maquette. 23.5 x 18.0 x 19.0 cm (9.1 x 7.1 x 7.5 in) Rs. 175,000 – 250,000 $ 3,800 – 5,400 £ 2,075 – 2,950 ‘I believe sculpture to be absolutely an independent entity by itself without being embellishment to architecture or clinging to it as its adjunct… It should conserve its energy within. It is a living object, constantly growing…The undulating movements in gliding planes merging one into another create the energy in a continuum which is its life giving force – the prana of Indian Philosophy. So, in essence it should be static, yet dynamic.’– Prodosh Das Gupta, rpt. in Indian Sculpture Today. Mumbai: Jehangir Art Gallery 1983; p13. ‘ ‘After 1943, we see Das Gupta embarking on sculptures based on the War and Famine in Bengal and later on more original works which stressed mass and volume. These led to the formation of a personal style which emphasized heavy-looking forms, often rounded and massive with slightly uneven surfaces… Das Gupta has always worked in heavy media such as cement, bronze or terracotta and has made an attempt to preserve the earth quality and ponderousness of sculpture.’ –Jaya Appasamy, rpt. in An Introduction to Modern Indian Sculpture. ICCR 1970; pp16-7.