Sadanand K. Bakre

Acquired at an estate sale, Connecticut, August 2023

Born in Baroda in 1920, Sadanand K. Bakre was a pioneer of Indian modern art and one of the founding members of the celebrated Progressive Artists’ Group (PAG). Bakre began exploring modernism through the sculpted form, and in 1951 moved to London with fellow Progressive artist, Francis Newton Souza. It was during this time that Bakre concentrated solely on painting and honed his understanding of line, form and color.

The 1960s were a period of important progression and evolution for Bakre. The angular, sharply abstract works of the 50s gave way to tightly ordered, often kaleidoscopic, architectural vistas and lyrical still lifes. Bakre’s landscapes were varied during this time, including his charming cubist compositions in thick impasto, and more ethereal depictions of cathedrals and cities, with variegated forms and ornamental patterns. A complex configuration of walls, archways and roofs, the current lot exhibits both of these inclinations in Bakre’s townscapes, whilst showcasing its own unique construction. With a vibrant palette and shifting perspectives, the painting reveals a fantastical, dreamlike scene. The structure of the landscape possesses a strong three-dimensionality, perhaps attributable to Bakre’s understanding of the sculpture medium. This elaborate yet elemental composition is a culmination of his influences as a member of the PAG and an artist living in Post War Britain.