In the 1937 painting, a human figure is seen sitting low on a darkened hillside, partially illuminated amid deep greens and ochres, while another figure rises from the shadow, extending an arm that emits a faint glow.
The painting will be auctioned online along with a handwritten signed card bearing the phrase “Tamosah Parastat” in Bengali, and “From across the Dark” written in English, which was also presented to the princess.
The artwork, now part of a Mumbai-based collection, is being offered at an auction for the first time, AstaGuru Auction House director of marketing, Manoj Mansukhani, said, adding that the auction will be conducted by AstaGuru between December 14 and 17.
“This work holds extraordinary historical and emotional resonance. Painted in June 1937 during Tagore’s final and most creatively sustained sojourn in Almora, it reflects the introspective, atmospheric style characteristic of his late period,” he told ET.
The painting was Tagore’s way of consoling the princess and her husband, Dewakar Prakash Singh, who were mourning the recent loss of their young child. Tagore had met them during his final visit to Almora in the summer of 1937, a time when he was said to be painting with renewed intensity.
Tagore started focusing on painting only in 1928 at the age of 67. The poet had an emotional connection with places in the hills, especially Almora and Ramgarh in the Kumaon range, which he visited several times to find solace from the loss of his loved ones, including wife Mrinalini.Also listed for auction are paintings by Bengal School luminaries such as Jamini Roy, Bikash Bhattacharjee, and Asit Haldar, as well as works by modernists such as Tyeb Mehta, FN Souza, KH Ara, Sadanand Bakre, Jehangir Sabavala, and Krishen Khanna.
Tyeb Mehta’s untitled work is going to be the most expensive artwork in the event with an estimated price tag of ₹30-40 crore. The next most expensive would be Jehangir Sabavala’s ‘Conspirators’, with a tag in the ₹4-6 crore range.
The auction will offer two canvases by Manjit Bawa. His work titled ‘Flying’ is estimated to sell for ₹3-5 crore, an AstaGuru executive said.