Page 50 - Pundole's Auction M0015

20 *

PROPERTY FROM THE FAMILY COLLECTION OF
NANDALAL BOSE

ABANINDRANATH TAGORE of his. He has created me in this world of Art and in that
sense I am like a son unto him. And as such I have been
1871?–?1951 the inheritor of a treasure of such value as cannot be
measured by any material standard.’ (Nandalal Bose, The
The Dog Who Has Lost His Master Vishvabharati Quarterly, Nandalal Number, Kolkata, 1971,
p. 124)
Ink on paper
1941 Abanindranath refers to himself as Gouri’s dadamoshai
6¾ × 8½ in. (17.1 × 21.6 cm.) [or grandfather] on various occasions and in various places
since she was a favourite of his, and the daughter of his
Signed in Devanagari upper right and inscribed ‘Dog who disciple Nandalal Bose. The signing of the painting as
has lost its master / To. / Srimati Gauri / A gift from your ‘your poor grandfather’ also underlines Abanindranath’s
poor Dadamoshai / with a lot of blessings / Well wishes / impoverished and distressed state of mind.
Abanindranath Tagore / Jorasanko / Kolikato / 2nd
Bhadro / 1348’ in Bengali on reverse

??12,00,000?–18,00,000

NATIONAL ART TREASURE – NON-EXPORTABLE ITEM
(Please refer to the Terms and Conditions of Sale
at the back of the catalogue)

PROVENANCE:
From the collection of Nandalal Bose’s eldest daughter,
Gouri Bhanja, nee Bose and thence by descent.

The current work is dated according to the Bengali calendar
and corresponds to the date 17 August 1941. The date of
its creation is the key to the meaning of this painting, for
only ten days prior to its creation, Rabindranath Tagore
passed away. The title of the work in Bengali is ‘Prabhu-hara
Kuku’ which translates to ‘a stray dog that has lost his
master’. Such an expression is used often in Bengali
literature for someone who is feeling totally lost or
rudderless, because he is separated from his guardian.
Most famously, Rabindranath Tagore used the phrase in
his short story The Homecoming where he referred to his
protaganoist, Phatik, as a stray who has lost his master.
This is therefore a poignant reference by Abanindranath
Tagore to his own condition following the passing away of
Rabindranath; his uncle and the leading light of his life.

The relationship between guru and disciple in the
context of the Bengal school cannot be overestimated.
Abanindranath Tagore was Nandalal Bose’s guru, and at
least in part, Rabindranath provided similar inspiration to
Abanindranath. Nandalal states ‘To call myself a disciple
of Abanindranath is but stating a fact. But it leaves very
much unsaid. Whatever I am, I know I am only a creation

48