RAM KUMAR (1924-2018) "UNTITLED" KASHMIR LANDSCAPE, SIGNED ON VERSO, OIL ON CANVAS

Size: 53 x 47 inches

Provenance: Collection of Mr & Mrs Anand, London circa 2003


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.