Kolkata: Three lots of Nandalal Bose’s works will be put up for an online auction. The first lot is a 1943 untitled watercolour on canvas, depicting Shiva drinking poison. The second comprises 24 handwritten letters with artist Indra Dugar, seven handwritten envelopes, and one autographed photograph. The third lot is a 1953 watercolour landscape. All of Bose’s works in Astaguru’s upcoming Master’s Legacy auction are being offered for the first time.A leading member of the Bengal School, Bose joined Kala Bhavana at Visva-Bharati in Santiniketan in 1920, and later, became its principal.Lot 4, which has Bose’s untitled (Shiva Drinking World Poison) 1943 watercolour on paper, exemplifies the spiritual lyricism and refined draughtsmanship central to Bose’s practice. Acquired directly from the artist and designated a National Art Treasure, the work was chosen as the catalogue’s leading image and is estimated to go under the hammer for Rs 2-3 crore.Lot 6 of the catalogue includes letters, written between 1935 and 1959, envelopes and a signed photo, offering insight into artistic exchange and mentorship. The 1953 landscape in Lot 64 reflects Bose’s lyrical engagement with nature and enduring command of line and tonal restraint. The estimated price of the lot of correspondences and the landscape is between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh each.“The 1943 painting reflects his mastery in reinterpreting myth through a distinctly Indian visual language. The letters reveal a more intimate dimension of Bose’s practice, shedding light on the dialogue, mentorship, and shared artistic inquiry that shaped the Santiniketan milieu,” said Sunny Chandiramani, director, client relations, AstaGuru Auction House.
