£2,000 - £2,500
"Untitled" - RAM KUMAR (1924-2018), Acrylic on Board.
An abstract acrylic on board, featuring a vertical cluster of geometric forms in vibrant hues of yellow, red, orange, blue, and white, rising against a stark black background. Signed RAM KUMAR at the lower left.
Ram Kumar was one of India’s most celebrated modernist painters and a pioneering member of the Progressive Artists’ Group, alongside artists like M.F. Husain and S.H. Raza. Born in 1924 in Shimla, he initially studied economics before discovering his passion for art. He trained in painting in Paris under the renowned French artist André Lhote and at the École des Beaux-Arts. Ram Kumar’s artistic journey transitioned from early figurative works—often reflecting themes of urban alienation—to deeply meditative, abstract landscapes that became his signature style. His compositions, especially those inspired by the holy city of Varanasi, are considered some of the finest examples of Indian abstraction.
His accomplishments are many: he was awarded the Padma Shri in 1972 and the Padma Bhushan in 2010 by the Government of India, recognizing his profound influence on Indian art. He also received the prestigious Kalidas Samman and the Lalit Kala Akademi Fellowship, India’s highest honor in the arts. In addition to being a painter, Ram Kumar was an accomplished writer in Hindi, known for his short stories and novels that paralleled the emotional depth found in his canvases. His legacy lies not only in his artworks, held in major collections around the world, but also in the introspective and poetic sensibility he brought to modern Indian art.
Approximately 65 x 48cm
Provenance: Private collection from a distinguished USA collector.
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