In a historic moment for the global art market, a monumental painting by the legendary M.F. Husain shattered all previous records for Indian art in March 2025. The work, titled Untitled (Gram Yatra), was sold at a Christie’s auction in New York for a staggering $13.8 million (approximately ₹118 crore).
This sale didn’t just break Husain’s personal record; it redefined the valuation of Modern Indian Art on the world stage.
The Masterpiece: Untitled (Gram Yatra)
Created in 1954, Gram Yatra (translated as “Village Pilgrimage”) is a colossal mural-sized oil painting measuring nearly 14 feet in width. It is considered a seminal work from the artist’s most prolific period, capturing the spirit of a newly independent India.
- Composition: The painting features 13 distinct vignettes (panels) on a single canvas, depicting various scenes of rural life—from women milking cows and grinding grain to bullock carts and village gatherings.
- Style: It showcases Husain’s signature bold lines, vibrant earth tones, and a unique fusion of Cubist influences with Indian folk art.
- Significance: Art historians view it as an “epic survey” of Indian society, reflecting the country’s transition from colonial rule to a modern, self-reliant nation.
The “Hidden” Provenance
Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of the ₹118 crore price tag is the painting’s journey. For over 70 years, the work was virtually unknown to the public and art scholars.
- The Purchase: In 1954, a Ukrainian-born Norwegian doctor, Leon Elias Volodarsky, bought the painting while stationed in New Delhi to help the WHO establish a thoracic surgery center.
- The Gift: In 1964, Dr. Volodarsky bequeathed the work to the Oslo University Hospital in Norway.
- The Discovery: It hung in a quiet corridor of the hospital for decades until Christie’s specialists identified it.
- The Outcome: The hospital consigned the work for auction, and the proceeds are reportedly being used to fund a new medical training center—a full-circle tribute to Dr. Volodarsky’s legacy.
Shattering Records
The sale of Gram Yatra represented a massive leap in market confidence for Indian modernists.
| Category | Previous Record | New Record (Gram Yatra) |
|---|---|---|
| Highest price for an Indian artwork | ₹61.8 Crore (The Story Teller by Amrita Sher-Gil) | ₹118 Crore |
| M.F. Husain’s personal best | ₹26.7 Crore (Untitled (Reincarnation)) | ₹118 Crore |
The painting was reportedly acquired by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), adding to one of the most significant private collections of Indian art in the world.
Why did it sell for so much?
Several factors converged to create this “perfect storm” in the auction room:
- Rarity and Scale: Large-scale works from Husain’s 1950s period almost never come to market.
- Unblemished Provenance: Having been out of sight for 70 years, the painting was in pristine condition and carried a “fresh to market” appeal.
- Global Demand: The auction saw a fierce bidding war, signaling that Indian “Blue Chip” artists are now being valued similarly to Western masters like Picasso or Matisse.
”This is a landmark moment… it continues the extraordinary upward trajectory of the Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art market.” — Nishad Avari, Christie’s Head of South Asian Modern Art.