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Lot Essay
Abdur Rahman Chughtai is regarded as the first major modern Muslim artist of South Asia. What distinguishes Chughtai from his peers is his unmistakeable and consistent reference to the tradition of Mughal painting.
Throughout his five decade career Chugtai rediscovered Mughal and Persian paintings, calligraphy, architecture and ornamentation and reinterpreted these aesthetics into his paintings and etchings. Rather than 'keeping in tradition', Chughtai's work is in 'continuity with tradition', thereby transcending himself from the role of artisan to that of a modern artist.
His most desirable works portray images of refined noblemen and women in grand, idyllic settings, as seen in lot 34 and 50. His compositions with their bold flowing lines are set against exquisite color harmonies. Chughtai's etchings (lots 32-33 and 49) further reveal his exceptional draughtsmanship and poetic interpretation of the past.
Throughout his five decade career Chugtai rediscovered Mughal and Persian paintings, calligraphy, architecture and ornamentation and reinterpreted these aesthetics into his paintings and etchings. Rather than 'keeping in tradition', Chughtai's work is in 'continuity with tradition', thereby transcending himself from the role of artisan to that of a modern artist.
His most desirable works portray images of refined noblemen and women in grand, idyllic settings, as seen in lot 34 and 50. His compositions with their bold flowing lines are set against exquisite color harmonies. Chughtai's etchings (lots 32-33 and 49) further reveal his exceptional draughtsmanship and poetic interpretation of the past.