Osian's Auction Catalogue Select Masterpieces of Indian Modern and Contemporary Art | June 2009

33 10 Sunil Das (b.1939) Woman series Oil on canvas, 1999 S/d in English ‘Sunil 99’ t.r. 55.6 x 55.6 in (140.8 x 140.8 cm) Inscribed in English ‘Sunil DAS, Calcutta 464-0971’ on verso INR 1,200,000 – 1,500,000 USD 25,000 – 31,250 “Passing years found me yielding more and more of my worked-in surface to the phenomenon of woman. The beholder of my work was to discover that my gaze was not transfixed on the rich contours of the female form only. The curves and the cleavages, the concaves and convexes, the narrowings and the broadenings, the projections and recessions of the female anatomy have increasingly made me curious about the unseen, and therefore, mysterious aspects of womanhood. Baring of the female body which for ages engaged male artists’ art practice has become less meaningful to me. Even otherwise unraveling of the mystery of womanhood has no meaning for me. I would rather let my women remain unfathomable in their shrouded mystery. I would be happy if my women send enigmatic signals with their gazes, twist of neck, turns of head and make signs with their hands and fingers to indicate states of their minds and desire of their souls.” – Sunil Das, rpt. in ‘My Woman’, Sunil Das In Retrospect 1957–2003 , ExC, 2003, ITC Hotel, Kolkata