Lot description
Lot 312. RAM KUMAR (1924–2018), BENARAS (VARANASI), OIL ON CANVAS Contemporary, 20th Century Rendered in dense, textured oil pigments, the composition depicts an abstracted cityscape formed of interlocking architectural blocks. The palette is dominated by slate blues, greys, umbers, and muted ochres, applied in thick impasto that builds a rugged, sculptural surface. Dark linear contours delineate the faceted structures, evoking clustered buildings and stepped terraces under a deep, nocturnal sky. Areas of warm yellow and pale pink emerge within the grid of forms, suggesting illuminated windows or reflective surfaces. The paint surface shows varied brushwork, from heavily worked passages to thinner scumbled layers. The lower section retains visible abrasions and areas of exposed underpainting, consistent with the artist’s vigorous handling of the medium. Along the bottom right, the signature is present, partially integrated into the textured ground. Ram Kumar frequently explored the urban topography of Benaras through increasingly abstract idioms, reducing the city’s dense architecture into rhythmic, interwoven forms. His works from this period evoke both the material presence of the city and its contemplative, atmospheric character through texture, colour, and structural compression. Measurements: 36 x 28 inches Provenance: British Private Collection circa 2003; thence by descent; previously acquired from a Delhi art gallery (invoice copy available to the winning bidder)