Page 34 - Iconic Masters October2023

Lot No. 22
GANESH PYNE
1937-2013

UNTITLED
18 x 20 in (45.7 x 50.8 cm)
Mixed media on canvas
2000
Signed & Dated: Bottom Left

` 60,00,000 - 80,00,000 | $ 70,588 - 94,118

Provenance: Property from a private collection based
in Mumbai. Artwork was acquired by the present
owner directly from the artist.

Born in 1937, Ganesh Pyne’s artistic journey commenced
in childhood, where he immersed himself in sketching
and doodling, drawing early inspiration from Bengali
folklore. In his formative years, the luminous work of
Bengal School Artists, specifically Abanindranath and
Gaganendranath Tagore, left a lasting impression
on him. Ganesh Pyne’s pursuit of art led him to the
Government School of Art and Craft in Calcutta,
culminating in the completion of his diploma in Fine Arts
in 1959.
Instead of embracing a conventional career, the artist
made a bold choice by sketching for animated films
at the studio of the revolutionary film director Mandar
Mullick. Here, he had the privilege of working alongside
Disney animator Clair Weeks, who introduced him to the
nuances of image amplification and distortion to convey
diverse emotions. Initially, Pyne’s creations consisted of
watercolours and sketches that celebrated vibrant
mornings and roadside temples. Over time, his artistic
vocabulary underwent a profound transformation,
both in terms of form and palette.

Infusing a skeletal quality with his figures, Pyne’s
canvases shed their colourful attire in favour of dark
shadows, invoking an eerie phantasmagoric quality.
Early encounters with violence during his childhood left
an indelible impact on him and led to him becoming
obsessed with dark themes. This sensation of agony
found a conduit in his art, processed and synthesised to
create haunting imagery. Through the interplay of light
and shadow, Ganesh Pyne’s works evoke a profound
sense of melancholy, exploring the intricate interplay
between life and death.
Throughout his artistic career, Ganesh Pyne meticulously
crafted a concise yet profoundly impactful body of
work. He often engaged in deliberative preparations,
creating numerous sketches and jottings before
transferring the image to canvas.