Page 278 - Iconic Master

Lot No. 163

H A GADE

1917-2001
UNTITLED
26 x 15.7 in (66 x 40 cm)
Oil on board
1953
Signed & Dated: Bottom Right
` 5,00,000 - 7,00,000 | $ 6,250 - 8,750
Provenance: Property from a collection
based in Mumbai

Although H A Gade was enamoured with
painting landscapes during most of his
artistic career, the presented work marks a
considerable shift in his oeuvre. It showcases
his brilliant understanding of form and
colour. It is an oil on board work executed
in 1953, depicting a Goddess on a lion
with hues of vibrant red and yellow. This
painting is a perfect depiction of his dynamic
style and unique colour composition.

Gade was India’s finest abstract painter
from the post-independence period. Born in
1917, in Amravati, he studied Science at the
University of Nagpur, Maharashtra, in 1938.
He began his career by painting landscapes
after his Bachelor of Education examinations
in Jabalpur and later joined the Nagpur
School of Art in 1949 for a diploma course
and a master’s degree in 1950. S H Raza
played an important role in giving him advice
on various techniques and forms. Gade was
deeply affected by the slums of Mumbai
and incorporated them into his landscapes.
He has also represented small towns such
as Udaipur, Nasik, and Omkareshwar in
his works.