Amrita Sher-Gil’s painting “The Story Teller,” created in 1937, recently sold for an astounding Rs 61.8 crore ($7.44 million) on September 16. This sale set a new world record for the highest price ever achieved by an Indian artist.
This iconic artwork was the highlight of Saffronart’s Evening Sale: Modern Art, featuring over 70 artworks by renowned artists. The collection included important pieces by modern masters like V S Gaitonde and S H Raza, as well as early works by Tyeb Mehta, M F Husain, F N Souza, and Akbar Padamsee.
Before this sale, the most expensive Indian artwork sold at an auction was S H Raza’s “Gestation,” which had fetched Rs 51.75 crore.
Explaining the significance of the Sher-Gil artwork, a statement released by Saffronart before the auction highlighted that it was created “during a crucial formative period in the artist’s career when her European and Indian influences blended to form a distinctive artistic style.”
Regarding “The Story Teller,” the Saffronart website quotes art enthusiast Karl Khandalavala, who suggested that it drew inspiration from Pahari paintings. He noted that “the cows, the women, and the overall setting, while technically different from Basohli miniatures, are imbued with its lyrical quality and vibrant colors.”
