Osian's Auction Catalogue The Osianama Series |February 2013

78 1944 37 Chittaprosad 21 June 1915 – 13 November 1978 Gandhiji at Prayer Time, while recuperating in Purnakuti, Poona Opaque watercolour on paper, 1944 S/d in English ‘Chittaprosad Purnakuti Poona 7:45pm. 6 May 1944’ t.l. 21.8 x 29.8 in (55.4 x 75.8 cm) Provenance The Osian’s Collection; acquired from Delhi Art Gallery, who in turn directly acquired it from the Artist’s Family ` 600,000 – 1,200,000 US$ 10,910 – 21,820 GBP 7,500 – 15,000 38 Benode Behari Mukherjee 7 February 1904 – 19 November 1980 Khanjari Player Series Watercolour on cardboard, Mid 1940s Signed in Bengali ‘Benode’ l.l. 9.0 x 5.4 in (22.8 x 13.6 cm) Provenance New Delhi-based Private Collector; acquired from an old Kolkata-based family collection Illustrative Reference Please refer to Benodebehari Mukherjee: A Centenary Retrospective Exhibition. New Delhi: NGMA & Vadera Art Gallery, 2007; p.321, fig. 118 for the colour thumbnail Illustration from the same “Khanjari Player” series as Lot 38. ` 200,000 – 400,000 US$ 3,640 – 7,280 GBP 2,500 – 5,000 Illustrative Reference Please refer to People’s War. 14 May 1944, Vol. II, No. 46 for B/w illustration. Chittaprosad: A Retrospective 1915-1978 (Vol. 2). New Delhi: Delhi Art Gallery, 2011; p.407 for colour illustration. “The Painting depicts Mahatma Gandhi at prayer time on the occasion of his first public appearance at Purnakuti. Nikhil Chakravarty reports in People’s War, “ Saturday the 6th of May. The morning papers flashed the news that Gandhiji was going to be released at 8. Without a moment’s ado, Chittaprosad and myself took the next train to Poona. Excitement and speculation ran high, but the people as a whole seemed to be as yet too dazed to celebrate it as a day of national jubilation.”