Osian's Auction Catalogue Creative India Series 1 Bengal | December 2011

‘ChittapRoSad, the CalCutta gRoup, F.n. Souza & aRtiStS oF tRanSition 1940-50s’ Lots 81 – 93 Three important works by the eminent artist & humanist Chittaprosad, begin the section focusing on the Post Independence period. Lots 84 to87 contains artworks by four of the leading founders and members (Prodosh Dasgupta, Abani Sen, Paritosh Sen & Nirode Mazumdar)of the pioneering Calcutta Group 1944- 52, which was an important artistic group which through their exhibitions and manifesto took another significant step towards widening and deepening the modernist journey within India. They preceded themore famous Bombay based Progressive Artists Group (PAG), established by F.N. Souza in 1947, who have naturally received much greater critical acclaim and financial success over the recent decades, but it is inevitable that the difference in acclaimwill lessen in years to come as greater awareness emerges. Naturally, there is only one Francis Newton Souza (Lots 88 - 89), and this auction includes two of his finest early works on paper (1946 & 1949) during his days as leader of the Progressives, from an old Kolkata-based collector, where he stayed during his visit in March 1969. ‘The Artists of Transition’ include Sailoz Mookherjee, the last artist to become a National Art Treasure of India, Zainul Abedin, a National Art Treasure of Bangladesh and two eminent artists - Sunil Madhav Sen & Bimal Dasgupta - who have still not received the respect and acclaim they so clearly deserve. ‘ PART II Lots 81 – 134