Page 74 - Manifest September 2024

Lot No. 40

K K HEBBAR

1911-1996
UNTITLED
18.5 x 14.5 in (47 x 14.5 cm)
Oil on canvas
1945
Signed & Dated: Top Left
` 20,00,000 - 30,00,000
$ 24,390 - 36,585
Provenance: Property from a collection based in
Mumbai. Artwork was acquired by the present owner
directly from the artist, thence by descent

K K Hebbar was born on 15 June 1911, in Kattingeri
near Udupi, in Karnataka. He grew up in a culturally
rich Tulu-speaking family that influenced his artistic
sensibilities from a young age. Apart from being well
known for his portraits, works created utilising oil paints,
poster colours, pen and ink on canvas and paper, he was
also a dancer and sculptor. He completed his initial art
training at Chamarajendra Technical Institute in Mysore
and earned a Diploma in Painting from the Sir J.J. School
of Art in Mumbai (1934-38), K.K. Hebbar also worked as
an art instructor there.
Hebbar was influenced by Indian miniature works
such as the illustrations of Jain manuscripts, Mughal
miniatures, and Ajanta murals. He was highly inspired
by the works of artists such as Amrita Sher-Gil and Paul
Gaugin. He travelled to Europe to further his studies at
the Académie Julian (Painting) and the École Estienne
(Graphics) in Paris. He was known for his unique style
that combined traditional Indian themes with modernist
techniques, contributing significantly to the Indian
art movement.
His works were a reflection of his influence of
Impressionism, Pointillism, and Expressionism. Hebbar
utilised bold and bright colours to help convey emotions
and feelings. His paintings were frequently drawn from
Indian mythology, rituals, and landscapes. He was also
very fond of music and dance. He trained in Kathak for
two years from Pandit Sunder Prasad and this experience
influenced many of his works in which he captured the
grace and rhythm of the dancers and performers. These
works by the artist can be seen in the book ‘The Singing
Line’ (1964) by Mulk Raj Anand.