AstaGuru’s “Historic Masterpieces” auction of Modern Indian Art has achieved a white-glove result, recording a 100% sell-through rate with all 87 lots sold. Held online from 14–17 December 2025, the sale realised a total of INR 1,63,65,61,028 (approximately USD 18.49 million).
The auction set new world records for several modern Indian artists, including Rabindranath Tagore, Krishen Khanna, Sadanand K Bakre and Walter Langhammer.
The top lot was Rabindranath Tagore’s 1937 work “From Across the Dark,” which sold for INR 10,73,55,551, marking the highest price ever achieved for a Tagore artwork at auction. Painted during his final, creatively intense sojourn in Almora, the late-period work is noted for its introspective, atmospheric quality and psychological depth.
Krishen Khanna’s “The Last Supper,” a reinterpretation of the iconic biblical scene through the artist’s characteristic humanist, expressionist lens, fetched INR 10,22,43,382. Walter Langhammer’s luminous coastal panorama of old Bombay realised INR 56,96,248, setting a new record for the artist.
Another world record was established for Sadanand K Bakre with “Monalisa,” which sold for INR 2,30,73,603. Executed in 1961, the rare figurative work stands out in an oeuvre largely defined by abstraction and landscapes.
Commenting on the results, Manoj Mansukhani, Director, Marketing at AstaGuru Auction House, said the sale underscored the house’s “curatorial excellence in presenting rare and significant works within the modern Indian art market.” He added that the strong response from collectors reaffirmed growing demand for modernist works new to the market and supported by notable provenance.
Beyond the record-setting lots, the auction featured works by leading Indian modernists such as Manjit Bawa, J Swaminathan, F N Souza, Jamini Roy, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Somnath Hore, Ram Kumar, K H Ara, Himmat Shah, Ganesh Pyne and others.
A detailed analysis of the results is available on AstaGuru’s website at www.astaguru.com.
Cover image: Rabindranath Tagore – From Across The Dark
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
