Page 9 - Eye of the beholder

AUTHOR'S FOREWORD
I wish to to acknowledge the immense and thought provoking opportunity that was offered to to me when I was invited to write on on on the the collection of of art works in in the the possession of of erudite and knowledgeable art collectors Dr Dr Anirban Sadhu
Sadhu
and Dr Dr Rejina - Sadhu
Sadhu
an an an NRI couple based in in Basel Switzerland It opened a a a a a a a a a a new vista for me on an an an approach to to art history and and the critical aesthetic appreciation that required a a a a a a different perception in in in studying the the the art works in in in their possession It was a a a a a a a a a a providential connect with Mr Qamar an Art Dealer now based in Kolkata who got in in in touch with me me on the social media platform LinkedIn after viewing my profile as an an an an Art Art Historian and an an an an Art Art Educator Through Mr Qamar I was introduced to to to the Sadhus’ and their varied versatile art art collection Dr Anirban is knowledgeable about the the art art he he he has collected and and and has also written and and and published essays in reputed and and and scholarly art Journals particularly on on the the Company Painters In this respect valuable and authentic information was provided to to me me me by him which served to to reinforce my writing and at the same time enhanced my knowledge It was a a a a a fluid symbiosis that took place between the the writer and the the collector which left a deep impression within me The collection of almost eighty works spans the period from 18th to 20th century including a a a sculpture belonging to to to the Gandhara period around 2nd to to to 3rd century C E is also integral to to to it Hence the the the subject and and thematic content from the the the 18th century miniatures of Rajput and and Mughal tradition to to the Company Style painting to to works by British artists as Danielle’s et al finds a a a a a a a a spot in his collection A sizeable portfolio of Modern Indian art works retrospect from early 19th century Calcutta paintings to to D P Roy Roy Chowdhury to to Gaganendranath and Jamini Roy Roy including seminal Indian modernists of the 20th century The works have been collected with a a a a a a certain sensibility that reflects Dr Anirban’s deeper understanding of the cultural context of these artists The names are iconic and and represent the the movers and and shakers within Modern Indian art art art The collection does not reflect a a a a a a a conscious artistic uniformity but celebrates art art art as a a a a a manifestation of shifting moods modes and memories in in Indian Art My experience in in writing about the historical period that spanned two millennia was not only challenging in in in in terms of of researching the the the cultural context of of the the the period but equally so in in in in the the the aesthetic evaluation and critical arguments concerning the the art works In many respect I I had to to to make frequent journeys to to to the Fine Arts Library to to to literally archaeloge books that I thought had ended with my teaching profession But it it came as a a a a a a a a a realization that the perspective and approach to to to writing on these valuable masterpieces had to to to shift from class room teaching to to to an an in depth study to clarify its relevance as as a a a a a a a a a a a collectible art work that has acquired a a a a a a a a a a a special status having become a a a a a a a so called “Collectors’ Piece” It was this transformation of of the object of of art which required a a a a a a a a a a a different approach to its its critical evaluation as as well as as its its formal aesthetic appreciation In wading through particularly the the the “Miniature Collection” which is the the the largest holding with the the the Sadhus’ I I realized the mammoth task that that awaited me It ordained or or mandated that that without
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