N. S. BENDRE (1910-1992)

UNTITLED (THREE WOMEN GROOMING)
OIL ON CANVAS
32 X 38 INCHES
SIGNED AND DATED IN DEVANAGARI, LOWER RIGHT

A CHARMING FIGURATIVE WORK BY NARAYAN SHRIDHAR BENDRE, A MASTER OF INDIAN MODERNISM AND A CONTEMPORARY OF THE BOMBAY PROGRESSIVES. THREE WOMEN ARE GROUPED CLOSELY IN AN INTIMATE DOMESTIC MOMENT. ONE BRAIDS THE HAIR OF THE CENTRAL FIGURE, WHO HOLDS A HAND MIRROR, WHILE A YOUNG GIRL LEANS IN FROM THE RIGHT. THE FIGURES ARE PAINTED IN SMOOTH GREY-BLUE TONES, WITH SARIS AND SKIRTS BUILT FROM THE ARTIST'S SIGNATURE PUNTILLIST DOTS IN OCHRE, RUST, CREAM AND DEEP BROWN. THEY SIT AGAINST A SOFTLY MOTTLED OLIVE-GREEN GROUND. THE WORK COMBINES BENDRE'S ELEGANT, SIMPLIFIED FIGURES WITH THE POINTILLIST TECHNIQUE THAT BECAME HIS LATE-CAREER HALLMARK.

THESE WORKS ARE HIGHLY SOUGHT AFTER, MUCH LIKE THOSE BY RENOWNED ARTISTS SUCH AS M.F. HUSAIN, S.H. RAZA, F.N. SOUZA, AKBAR PADAMSEE, HEMENDRANATH MAZUMDAR, RAM KUMAR, JAMINI ROY, B. PRABHA, TYEB MEHTA, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY ARE OFTEN SOLD BY AUCTIONEERS TO COLLECTORS AROUND THE GLOBE