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Bangladeshi artist Zainul Abedin has made history at Sotheby's auction, with several of his works fetching record-breaking prices.
At the "Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art" auction, Abedin's "Untitled" ink and wash painting sold for a staggering US $692,048. This marks the highest price ever paid for a Bangladeshi artwork at auction.
Another of Abedin's works, "Untitled (Group of Figures)," also sold for a record price of US $643,690. Both paintings were gifted to Cedomil Plazek, a hydrogeologist who worked in Bangladesh.
“These record-breaking sales underscore Abedin's generous spirit and the deep connection he shared with Plazek,” said a Sotheby’s representative. “The paintings, now immortalized in art history, serve as a testament to their friendship and the artist's lasting legacy.”
A third work by Abedin, “Untitled (Figures),” sold for US $289,663 (Tk 3.46 crore). Executed in ink and pencil on paper, this piece was signed and dated ‘Zainul / 25/5/70 / Jordan,’ showcasing Abedin’s nuanced sensitivity to human forms and emotions, a recurring theme in his oeuvre.
These results follow a recent trend of Abedin’s artworks gaining recognition and value on the global stage. In March, two of his paintings achieved significant prices at auction. One, an oil-on-canvas from 1963 depicting a Santal couple, sold for US $381,000 (around Tk 4.16 crore). Another, portraying a woman at rest in a sky-blue saree and scarlet bangles, sold for US $279,400 (approximately Tk 3.05 crore).
Both paintings were part of the Jamsheed K Marker and Diana J Marker estate, a collection that brought to light some of Abedin's lesser-seen works. The Marker family, prominent figures in diplomatic circles, owned these pieces for decades before they were brought to auction by Sotheby’s.
The recent sales have solidified Zainul Abedin’s place in the annals of art history, affirming his position as a pivotal figure in South Asian modern art.
