Who knew that Picturesque Portraitures could be the new trend?

Sher-Gil’s art portrait fetched a whooping ₹61.8 crores in an auction in Mumbai!

In 1937, Indo-Hungarian artist Amrita Sher-Gil painted “The Story Teller,” an oil-on-canvas masterpiece depicting a serene rural scene with village women gathered in a courtyard, surrounded by a cow, calf, a dog, a little boy, and a man in a doorway. This intimate and cozy depiction of village life was initially sold to Badruddin Tyabji Jr., a diplomat, and grandson of the third president of the Indian National Congress, at an exhibition in Faletti’s Hotel, Lahore.

Over the next eight decades, “The Story Teller” changed hands several times before resurfacing in the art market this September. It was auctioned by Mumbai-based gallery SaffronArt, where it fetched a record-breaking ₹61.8 crores, making it the most expensive Indian artwork ever sold. This sale is part of a more significant trend, with over ₹1,000 crore masterpieces worth sold in India and globally since January. The painting’s remarkable journey and significant sale highlight the enduring legacy and growing recognition of Sher-Gil’s work in art.

[Image Source: SaffronArt]