Page 26 - Historic-Masterpieces-Dec24

Lot No. 12
H A GADE

1917-2001

CHEMBUR MONSOON
41.7 x 30 in (106 x 76.2 cm)
Oil on canvas
Circa 1960
Signed: Bottom Right

` 15,00,000 - 20,00,000 | $ 18,519 - 24,691

Published: ‘Trends & Tradition: Eighty Glorious Years’ by
Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi, 2017, pg. 135

Provenance: Property from a collection based in New Delhi

This lot will be offered without a reserve

A founding member of the Progressive Artists’ Group,
Hari Ambadas Gade was born in Amravati, Maharashtra,
in 1917.

In the realm of Indian art, Gade is celebrated as a
pioneering abstract expressionist and a painter of
landscapes depicting solitary, unpeopled houses. A
frequent traveller, he sought to capture India’s diverse
scenery in his works. Initially using watercolours for his
landscapes, Gade later transitioned to oils, reflecting an
evolution in his artistic approach. His style expanded Cover of the publication with the work illustrated
further to include depictions of Bombay’s transforming
urban landscape, characterised by sprawling slums and
chaotic, unplanned structures, eventually leading him to
explore abstraction.

Gade’s urban scenes are notable for their flat, chromatic
intensity. The simple geometry of his forms conveys
a distant view of densely built cityscapes, with dark,
sinuous lines binding the elemental shapes into cohesive
structures. Alongside his acclaimed abstract works,
Gade’s extensive oeuvre included still lifes, nudes,
portraits, and landscapes, showcasing his versatility and
depth as an artist.