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A Love Letter to India: Sayed Haider Raza’s La Terre Sells for Record-Breaking $4.2 Million
BY ALBERT CHEN
In a stunning testament to the enduring legacy of Sayed Haider Raza, one of the most celebrated figures in modern South Asian art, La Terre—a monumental 1985 painting by the artist—has achieved a remarkable £3,315,400 ($4,235,000) at Bonhams’ Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art sale in London. The result not only exceeded its pre-sale estimate of £1.5 million to £2.5 million ($1.92 million to $3.19 million) but also set a record as the highest total ever achieved for a South Asian art auction at Bonhams.
Described as Raza’s “love letter to India,” La Terre represents a cornerstone of his oeuvre and is one of the largest and most significant works by the artist ever brought to auction. The piece is imbued with themes of Hindu philosophy and a profound connection to his cultural heritage. Its meticulous geometric abstraction and earthy color palette have captivated collectors and critics alike.
Priya Singh, Head of Modern & Contemporary South Asian Art at Bonhams, expressed her excitement about the sale: “La Terre was one of the most important paintings by Raza ever to come to auction, and we are beyond delighted with today’s result. With a sister work featured in the main pavilion at the Venice Biennale this year, the excitement surrounding this piece has been extraordinary. This landmark sale reflects the immense strength of the South Asian art market and Bonhams’ leading role in it.”
A Masterpiece Rooted in India’s Soil
La Terre, meaning “The Earth” in French, is a deeply personal work shaped by Raza’s formative experiences in the forests of his native village, Barbaria, in central India. The painting encapsulates the artist’s evolution from figurative landscapes to pure geometric abstraction, a style he fully embraced in the late 1970s. Central to this transformation was Raza’s commitment to intertwining his artistic practice with the philosophies, symbols, and spiritual ethos of India.
The painting is a visual meditation: a square canvas divided with precise intersecting lines, filled with an earthy palette that evokes the vibrancy of India’s natural and spiritual landscapes. It carries motifs that recur throughout Raza’s work, creating a sense of continuity and reverence for his roots.
Raza himself reflected on the La Terre series as an effort to reconnect with his homeland while living in France: “I was inspired to conceive a painting which could be a letter to my mother country, India, revealing my experiences, discoveries, and acquisitions. I hoped the painting could be evidence that I was never cut off from my sources. The memories, conscious and unconscious, were ever present.”
A Legacy of Transformation
Born in 1922 in rural Madhya Pradesh, Raza’s artistic journey began in Nagpur and Bombay before he moved to Paris in 1950 on a scholarship to study at the prestigious L’École des Beaux-Arts. His early work was influenced by Western styles, including Expressionism, but over time he gravitated toward geometric abstraction, blending it with Indian cultural and spiritual symbols.
Raza co-founded the Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group in 1947, alongside luminaries like Francis Newton Souza and Krishna Hawlaji Ara. Together, they sought to break free from colonial artistic traditions, blending indigenous themes with modernist aesthetics to create a distinctly Indian visual language.
By the 1970s and 1980s, Raza’s work took a deeply introspective turn, reflecting his increasing connection to Indian philosophy and spirituality. The La Terre series stands as a culmination of this period, cementing Raza’s reputation as one of the most important artists of the 20th century.
A Record-Breaking Moment
The sale of La Terre marks a watershed moment for South Asian art on the global stage. The painting’s success at auction not only highlights the growing appreciation for modern Indian art but also reinforces the enduring power of Raza’s vision.
This historic achievement underscores Bonhams’ leadership in championing South Asian art, with the sale establishing a new benchmark for the market. For collectors, curators, and art enthusiasts alike, the resounding success of La Terre is a reminder of the profound cultural and artistic legacy Sayed Haider Raza leaves behind. In the words of Priya Singh: “This result reaffirms Raza’s rightful place among the greats of modern art and showcases the unparalleled resonance of his work across the globe.”
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