Monday, April 29, 2024
Two paintings by renowned Bangladeshi artist Zainul Abedin were recently sold for record-breaking prices at a Sotheby's auction titled "Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art" held in New York.
Among the auctioned artworks, "Santal Couples" emerged as the highlight, fetching a staggering amount of USD 381,000. This masterpiece, created in 1963, portrays a rural couple adorned in traditional attire, walking barefoot with profound symbolic depth.
Measuring 102 cm in width and 135.5 cm in length, the oil painting on canvas bears Abedin's distinctive signature. Previously owned by the Marker family, close friends of Abedin, the painting was acquired directly from the artist himself in 1963.
Another notable artwork by Abedin featured in the auction was an oil painting depicting a weary woman adorned with red bangles and draped in a sky-blue saree. Painted between 1956 and 1963, this piece, measuring 80.4 cm in length and 60.4 cm in width, was also part of the Marker family collection. It sold for an impressive USD 279,400.
Despite Sotheby's withholding the identities of the buyers, art enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike acknowledge these sales as a testament to Abedin's enduring legacy as one of Bangladesh's most esteemed artists.
His works continue to captivate global audiences and command record prices in prestigious auctions, solidifying his position in the annals of art history.
