Shifting Demand: What M.F. Husain’s Record Auction Means for Indian Art

When countries like the United States, Hong Kong, and the UK break auction records with their treasured artworks, can India too stand out with its paintings?

M.F. Husain’s rural-themed artwork proved that there is no room for doubt when it comes to smashing sale records. A proud and thrilling moment for the nation, his artwork now graces the walls of an “unnamed institution” — or perhaps a known one.

In this blog, you will get to discover who reportedly purchased the painting and traverse the entire journey of the painting, from one exhibition to its final destination, and how the record inspired Indian artists everywhere. Before that, let’s get to know the persona whose artwork made history in the Indian art market.

Who was M.F. Husain?

M.F. Husain, or Maqbool Fida Husain, was an artist whose modern artworks set an excellent example for all Indian artists. However, his fame and recognition were not always the same.

Educated at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai, his life as an artist was full of struggles — so much so that he even slept on pavements for months. He earned his livelihood painting Bollywood billboards and eventually came to be associated with the Progressive Artists’ Group.

To usher in a new identity for Indian modern artists, this community of creators thrived on creating art that the common folk of India could relate to. The modernism of his paintings — particularly in how he represented deities — provoked the Hindu hardline groups, for which his life was in jeopardy. He went into a self-imposed exile, spending his final days in London, and passed away at the age of 95 from a cardiac arrest.

M.F. Husain’s Record-Breaking Auction

A sprawling 14-foot-wide mural, “Untitled (Gram Yatra),” stands out for its distinctive identity as a modern art of India that was sold at an astounding $13.8 million (over Rs 118 crore) at a Christie’s auction in New York on 19 March 2025.

The sale of the “Gram Yatra” painting (1954), roughly translated as a “pilgrimage to a village,” at an unprecedented price is an exciting news for every Indian, especially art lovers.

Maqbool Fida Husain was expecting to break the record price barrier of a series of thirteen vignette artworks, but the recent sale came as a jaw-dropping moment to everyone in the art industry.

“Gram Yatra” Painting’s Journey from AIFACS to “Unnamed Institution”

In the year 1949, members of the Progressive Artists’ Group, including M.F. Husain, were present for an exhibition at the Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS) in New Delhi. A European doctor named Leon Elias Volodarsky, a visitor at AIFACS, was highly impressed with the “Gram Yatra” painting and bought the art for Rs 1,400.

His visit to the country on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO) was motivated by a prime cause. Tuberculosis, a deadly disease that was claiming several lives in Norway, made him undertake this journey as he set himself on a mission to launch a new hospital for local doctors in the country.

For nearly half a century, the painting lurked in the shadows at the Oslo University Hospital until Christie’s was alerted in 2013 — and what followed on 19 March is history. So, who was it that purchased Maqbool Fida Husain's masterpiece and brought his modern painting to the spotlight?

Reportedly, the “unnamed institution” is Kiran Nadar, a renowned art collector and the wife of Shiv Nadar, founder of HCL Technologies. The proceeds from the sale are likely to be invested in the making of a medical training center by the Oslo University Hospital.

Ashish Anand, CEO of Delhi-based gallery DAG, was quite taken aback, as he was “expecting the painting to sell for around 5 million (about 50 crore rupees).”

“Gram Yatra” Painting of M.F. Husain

A traditional life dipped in modern hues, the “Gram Yatra” painting by Maqbool Fida Husain grabbed headlines in 2013. With this Indian art, one can have a glimpse into the daily life of a gram (village), where women can be seen cooking, taking care of children, and riding a cart — a typical scene from village life.

A farmer in the painting makes the artwork complete, alluding to the agricultural roots of Indian society and village life. He can be seen with an extended arm, seemingly pointing towards the land in an adjoining frame.

A Chinese painter, Xu Beihong, was an inspiration to M.F. Husain, and the calligraphic brushwork in the “Gram Yatra” painting is likely a visible influence the artist left in his life.

Other Indian Artists Whose Artworks Made the Highest Sales Records

Amrita Shergill

The Storyteller (1937) sold at $7.1 million (about 61 crore rupees)

S.H. Raza

Kalliste (2024) sold at $5.6 million (about 49 crore rupees)

M.F. Husain

Untitled (Reincarnation) sold at $ 3.1 million (about 26 crore rupees)

What does M.F. Husain’s Record Auction Mean for Indian Art?

India’s identity is unique, and its traditional paintings are culturally enriching. In such a scenario, can modern art be distinctive and have an identity representative of India? M.F. Husain’s artwork attempted to have its own voice in the realm of what we know as “modern art.”

The success that followed over time was astounding, which planted a dream in the minds of Indian artists, making them believe that Indian art, too, can break records. The excitement of art lovers and curators was amplified as the “crazy boom” hit the Indian art market.

M.F. Husain’s most expensive painting — the sale of the “Gram Yatra” — became a visible example from which several Indian artists can draw inspiration and continue their journey, anticipating the best and expecting the unprecedented.

This significant milestone in India’s history became a transformative moment for Indian art. Several artists have commented on this surge as an “upward trend” — or a positive one — celebrating Indian art for the gift it has endowed in India’s art history. So, in the words of Anand, Indian art will be “… viewed beyond just its aesthetic value to a tangible and serious financial asset.”

Bottom Line

Maqbool Fida Husain, a legendary artist from India, carved a niche in modern Indian art, blending traditional life with modernism to create paintings both vivid and bold. The groundbreaking sale of M.F. Husain’s most expensive painting was nothing short of a “crazy boom,” and the world was agape with both excitement and wonder.

A creator — whether an artist or a writer — is immortal, and this very achievement of the late artist is a moment to cherish that Indians will continue to relive across time. So, the next question that arises when we think of India’s position in the auction art market is — Will contemporary Indian artists smash the records set by M.F. Husain? Well, that’s a mystery for now, and a possibility we are still exploring!