Page 297 - Manifest September 2024

Lot No. 176

RAM KUMAR

1924-2018
UNTITLED
36 x 24 in (91.4 x 61 cm)
Acrylic on canvas
2003
Signed & Dated: Verso
` 30,00,000 - 40,00,000 | $ 36,585 - 48,780
Provenance: Property from a collection based in
New Delhi. Artwork was acquired by the present
owner from Kumar Gallery

Kumar’s visit to Varanasi in 1960 further transformed
his artistic approach. The city’s ancient and spiritual
landscape deeply resonated with him, leading
him to explore the relationship between objects,
individuals, and space. His paintings from this period
moved away from human figuration, focusing instead
on landscapes that appeared almost deserted, yet
were charged with an underlying sense of presence.
Kumar’s interpretation of these landscapes was not
purely representational but conceptual, focusing
on the interplay of lines, colours, textures, and
brushstrokes to express his preoccupation with
nature and the human psyche.
As his style evolved, Kumar drew inspiration from the
Himalayan foothills, where he spent his childhood
in Simla. The landscapes of this region became a
major influence on his work in the late 1960s. His
paintings from this period reflected his shift toward
pure abstraction, using a blend of lines, blocks, and
planes to evoke the mountainous terrain. These
compositions were often muted in tone but imbued
with a sense of both tranquility and tension, reflecting
the duality of his emotional state.
Kumar’s abstract landscapes gained international
acclaim for their unique blend of austerity and
emotion. Although his use of colour and line was often
restrained, his works evoked a profound sense of both
anguish and serenity. His ability to communicate
complex emotional landscapes through minimalistic
yet powerful compositions made him one of the most
revered figures in Indian modernism.