RAM KUMAR (1924-2018) "UNTITLED" (LANDSCAPE) SIGNED BOTTOM RIGHT

Oil on Canvas

Size: 37 x 36 inches

Provenance: Property of an esteemed Indian Family, London Based

Footnotes: Born in 1924 in Simla, Ram Kumar, a luminary in India's modernist art movement,
initially aspired to be a writer while still in school during the early 1930s. It wasn't until 1945
that he formally embarked on a journey into the realm of visual arts. After completing his
studies in economics at St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, in 1946, he pursued his passion for
painting in Paris under the tutelage of Andre Lhote and Fernand Léger from 1949 to 1952,
following a brief stint as a journalist. As a vital member of the Progressive Artist’s Group,
alongside icons such as F.N. Souza, S.H. Raza, and M.F. Husain, Ram Kumar's significance lies
in being part of the first generation of post-colonial Indian artists.
Ram Kumar's artistic repertoire predominantly features abstract interpretations of
landscapes characterized by jagged topographical contours, infused with an ambient sense
of despair. His nuanced exploration of the concept of landscape involves employing various
textures to articulate its architectonics through abstract strokes, reflecting his profound
preoccupation with nature, existence, and the intricate relationships between space,
objects, and individuals.
Throughout his lifetime, Ram Kumar garnered numerous accolades, including the prestigious
Padma Shri in 1972 and the Prem Chand Puraskar for a collection of short stories. His legacy
endures through retrospectives and exhibitions, with the artist passing away in 2018 at the
age of 93.