MANJIT BAWA 1998

Oil on canvas (45 x 67 inches)

This iconic work belongs to Manjit Bawa’s celebrated Krishna series, where the artist distils Indian mythology into a language of profound stillness and visual purity. Krishna, shown playing the flute and surrounded by cows, is rendered with sculptural simplicity and serene grace. Set against a luminous monochromatic ochre background, the composition transcends narrative depiction to become a meditative vision of harmony between the divine, nature, and living beings. In Manjit Bawa’s art, Krishna is not portrayed as a dramatic or heroic figure but as an eternal presence, calm, introspective, and compassionate.

The cows, central to Krishna’s pastoral identity, are depicted with dignity and gentleness, embodying innocence, abundance, and spiritual balance. Their rounded forms, soft modelling, and quiet attentiveness echo Bawa’s lifelong engagement with Indian classical sculpture, temple iconography, and the philosophy of restraint. The absence of extraneous detail heightens the spiritual resonance of the work, making stillness
itself the subject.

Provenance, Scholarship, and Recognition
The artwork has been acquired from a prominent and well-established art gallery in New Delhi, renowned for its long-standing contribution to the promotion and stewardship of significant works of Indian modern art. The provenance is sound, documented, and adds considerable credibility to the work. The piece is accompanied by the artist’s authenticity certificate, confirming its originality and authorship. In addition, it carries an independent authentication by noted art historian Mr. Ratan Parimoo, whose scholarly authority
and expertise in Indian modernism are widely respected. His certification provides strong academic and connoisseurial validation.

Further enhancing the importance of this work, noted art critic and writer Uma Nair has written about this artwork on her personal Instagram account, highlighting its artistic and cultural significance. The work has also been published in the Times of India, one of India’s leading national newspapers, underscoring its public and critical recognition. With its exceptional artistic merit, reputable gallery provenance, multiple layers of authentication, and documented critical acknowledgment, this artwork stands as a significant and museum-worthy example of Manjit Bawa’s Krishna imagery, making it a highly credible and valuable acquisition for discerning collectors and institutions alike.

Dubai Estimate: $800,000 – $1,200,000 USD

Location of item: Dubai, United Arab Emirates

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