Description:

Lot 11. KATTINJERI KRISHNA HEBBAR (1911–1996) UNTITLED, SIGNED & DATED 1987, OIL ON CANVAS

This large oil on canvas, signed and dated Hebbar 87 in both Hindi and English at the bottom right, exemplifies K.K. Hebbar’s deeply humanistic vision of Indian rural life. The composition depicts two robust bullocks led by a woman and a man, rendered in strong linear forms and rhythmic movement against a vivid, textured background of ochres, violets, and crimson tones. The interplay of sculptural figures and the luminous sky evokes both physical endurance and spiritual harmony. Hebbar’s brushwork—thick, tactile, and rhythmic—conveys a pulsating energy reminiscent of traditional mural sensibilities, while the figures’ simplified, almost monumental forms anchor the work in modernist abstraction.

Medium: Oil on Canvas
Measurements: 57 x 53 in (144.8 x 134.6 cm)
Provenance: Property of a French Collection

Footnotes:
Born on June 15, 1911, near Udupi in Karnataka, Kattinjeri Krishna Hebbar’s early artistic curiosity was nurtured by his father, a craftsman of Ganesha idols. Educated at the Sir J.J. School of Art, Bombay (1934–38), Hebbar initially explored impressionism but remained captivated by the spiritual and narrative depth of Indian classical art. Profoundly influenced by the writings of Sri Lankan philosopher Ananda Coomaraswamy and inspired by Amrita Sher-Gil’s synthesis of Indian and Western aesthetics, Hebbar’s work evolved into a synthesis of modern abstraction and traditional iconography.

His studies in Europe under Professor Cavailles at the Académie Julian, Paris, and later at École Estienne, honed his sense of form, colour, and movement. Between 1964 and 1975, Hebbar travelled and exhibited widely across Europe before returning to India, where he continued to experiment with rhythm and structure—often drawing inspiration from Indian dance forms like Kathak. A fellow of the Lalit Kala Akademi (1976) and Chairman of the Artists’ Centre, Bombay (1953–73), Hebbar was honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 1989. His oeuvre embodies a poetic balance of spiritual vitality and human empathy, capturing the timeless pulse of India’s people and landscapes until his passing in 1996.

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November 7, 2025 1:00 PM GMT
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