The StoryTeller to Hunger: 5 most-expensive paintings by Indian artists

Several of our Indian painters have received million-dollar checks for their acclaimed works of art at international art auctions during the past ten years. Here, we list the costliest paintings sold by Indian painters, which contain the names of some of the most well-known artists from India who are now held in high regard by the international art community.

The StoryTeller by Amrita Sher-Gil

Amrita Sher-Gil's masterwork, The StoryTeller, attracted a lot of attention after selling for an astounding Rs 61.8 crore at the Saffron Art Gallery's auction in Delhi. This outstanding work of art depicts a group of ladies participating in daily activities and is distinguished by its strong expressiveness. It depicted women performing normal duties, highlighting the grace and importance of everyday events in Indian women's lives.

Gestation by SH Raza

A 1989 S.H. Raza artwork titled Gestation sold for Rs. 51.75 crore in August of this year at a Pundole's auction in Mumbai. Gestation was created during the most important decade of Raza's career, when he was creating the key terms that would later be utilised in his paintings. The Bindu, or circle, embodies a sense of fullness or completion in its form. It is employed as a circle within a square in this instance, creating a mandala, which is the common representation of sacred geography.

Untitled by VS Gaitonde

At a Pundole's auction in Mumbai on February 24, an untitled painting by VS Gaitonde from 1969 sold for Rs 42 crore. The blue picture by Gaitonde, which resembles vast stretches of sky or water, is part of Masanori Fukuoka's collection. He is a Japanese businessman who specialises in fish processing. In 1991, Fukuoka opened the Glenbarra Art Museum in Himeji, Japan, which featured 60 Indian artists' creations.

Bull on Rickshaw by Tyeb Mehta

Tyeb Mehta's artwork is a celebration of his favourite subjects. It depicts a restrained bull riding a rickshaw and appearing to lose control and degenerate into pandemonium. This painting expertly exemplifies Tyeb Mehta's distinctive approach, which is to blend several images into a single work of art. This outstanding piece of art brought in Rs 41.97 crore, demonstrating just how highly Mehta's work is regarded and valued.

Hunger by FN Souza

F.N. Souza's painting Hunger, which got Rs 34.5 crore at auction, is a potent example of the artist's distinctive style. Souza is renowned for examining the darker, sombrer facets of society in his artwork. Hunger notably emphasises the pervasive, unquenchable yearning for material goods, symbolising greed and its devastating nature.