AstaGuru’s ‘Collectors Choice’ online auction, taking place on June 26–27, 2025, brings together an eclectic and historically significant selection of works by India’s foremost modern artists. Spanning rare archives, myth-infused canvases, and evocative figuration, the lots reflect a spectrum of styles and sensibilities that defined Indian modernism in the 20th century. These six standout entries offer a compelling glimpse into the auction’s depth:
Rabindranath Tagore
Lot 5 | Medium: Pen & Ink on Paper | Estimate: ₹5–7 Cr
This extraordinary archive comprises 35 handwritten letters and 14 envelopes penned by Rabindranath Tagore to sociologist Dhurjati Prasad Mukerji between 1927 and 1936. The correspondence, rich in personal reflection and philosophical insight, reveals Tagore in creative transition—from poet and public figure to visual artist and private seeker. Designated a National Art Treasure, this lot is non-exportable and represents one of the most significant literary holdings to appear in a modern Indian art sale.
M.F. Husain
Lot 59 | Medium: Acrylic on Canvas | Estimate: ₹2–3 Cr
This large-format painting from around 2000 brings together two towering figures of moral and spiritual influence—Mother Teresa and M K Gandhi—within M.F. Husain’s expressive visual idiom. The faceless representation of Mother Teresa in her distinct nun’s attire and Gandhi with his dhoti and walking stick is characteristic of Husain’s ability to convey identity through silhouette and gesture. Other symbolic elements, such as the chakra and lamp, further embed the work in a distinctly Indian visual and cultural lexicon. Executed in a restrained palette of black, white, brown, and blue, the painting enhances the dark yet deeply emotive quality of the piece.
A. Ramachandran
Lot 66 | Title: Visions of Ramdev – Ahalya in Red | Medium: Oil on Canvas | Estimate: ₹1.2–1.6 Cr
Ramachandran’s mythological reinterpretation draws from the tale of Ahalya in the Ramayana, presenting the figure in a moment of awakening. Rich reds, detailed foliage, and architectural forms surround her, invoking both narrative tension and visual abundance. Painted in 2001, the work exemplifies Ramachandran’s ability to integrate classical themes with a contemporary painterly vocabulary steeped in ecological and cultural symbolism.
J.P. Gangooly
Lot 2 | Medium: Oil on Canvas | Estimate: ₹1–1.5 Cr
This circa 1930 landscape by one of Bengal’s early plein air painters captures a winding path flanked by autumnal trees and distant hills. Gangooly’s romantic naturalism and tonal subtlety give the composition a meditative quality that echoes the early stirrings of Indian modernist thought, as it began to absorb and localize Western techniques.
Krishen Khanna
Lot 17 | Medium: Mixed Media on Canvas | Estimate: ₹40–60 Lakhs
Khanna’s recurring subject—the bandwalla—is revisited here with quiet power. The lone trumpeter, painted in mixed media, stands in contemplative stillness, symbolising endurance, anonymity, and performance. Part of a decades-long exploration, the work reflects Khanna’s deep engagement with Indian street life and the visual poetics of sound and procession.
Nandalal Bose
Lot 3 | Medium: Watercolour & Ink on Paper | Estimate: ₹25–35 Lakhs
Created in 1953, this lyrical composition reflects Bose’s Bengal School roots, combining soft gradations and fluid rhythm with an economy of line. His work, influenced by indigenous folk traditions and contextual modernism, continues to resonate for its quiet formal strength. This National Art Treasure is also non-exportable and offers a significant entry point into the artist’s post-Santiniketan period.
Final Thoughts
The Collectors Choice auction by AstaGuru stands as a thoughtful reflection on the journey of Indian modernism—charting shifts in vision, form, and cultural dialogue. From Tagore’s introspective writings to Husain’s powerful figuration, each artwork encapsulates a unique moment in India’s artistic evolution. As these works come together on June 26–27, 2025, they offer not just a glimpse into the past, but a reminder of how art continues to shape our understanding of identity, history, and creative legacy.
To view the entire catalog visit www.astaguru.com
