In a recent auction at Sotheby’s in New York, Zainul Abedin’s renowned painting ‘Santal Couples’, fetched a staggering $381,000, marking a record-breaking sale for the artist. The auction of this iconic piece, along with another Abedin painting featuring a seated woman, took place during Sotheby’s ‘Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art’ event last week.
The exceptional value attached to these artworks highlights the global recognition of Zainul Abedin’s contributions to the art world. Santal Couples, painted in 1963, portrays a rural couple in traditional attire with symbolic depth, reflecting Abedin’s profound artistic vision. This masterpiece, measuring 102 cm in width and 135.5 cm in length on canvas with oil colors and bearing the artist’s signature, was part of the Marker family collection and was previously acquired directly from Abedin himself.
The second painting by Abedin sold at the auction features a striking portrayal of a woman adorned with red bangles and draped in a sky-blue saree.
This artwork, created between 1956 and 1963 and measuring 80.4 cm in length and 60.4 cm in width on board with oil colors, was also part of the Marker family collection and commanded an impressive price of $279,400.
