Gieve Patel (b. 1940)

Acquired from Bose Pacia Gallery

This painting has been lightly cleaned. In good condition, as viewed.
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Throughout his career, Gieve Patel’s simultaneous practice as a doctor, painter, poet, and playwright has created a unique perspective on the urban life in Bombay, the city form which he hails. His paintings very often depict common people in the city, imbuing them with a keen moral sense. Since the 1970s, he has painted in an expressionist style, and achieved a balance between intimacy and detachment from his subjects. This horizontal panoramic work recalls some of Patel’s earliest masterworks from the early 1980s, but also shows an even finer regard for the human condition. In spite of Mumbai’s rapid development in recent decades, Patel focuses this work on an industry that is the backbone of this maritime city. Interestingly, he chooses to portray a traditional moment and basic type of ship in spite of the industry’s current global aspirations. Patel’s work maintains a timeless and universal appeal that reflects his seminal stature among India’s modern artists.