Vagabond Ram Kumar In conversation with Dr. Amin Jaffer Dr. Amin Jaffer is International Director of Asian Art at Christie’s. ‘Vagabond’ was sold by the auction house for a record figure of $1.2 million.
When Ram Kumar’s ‘Vagabond,’ surpassed
expectations by over three times, at a 2008
auction, were you surprised?
The high price achieved for ‘Vagabond,’ reflects both the intrinsic qualities and visual appeal of the painting. The competitive bidding for the painting is evidence of the desire shared by many collectors to own it, thus driving up the price beyond all expectations. Recognising the importance of the work, we had shown the painting to leading collectors and had toured it in India. We were delighted when it was purchased by the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art. Mrs. Nadar told me later that it was while bidding for this piece that plans to create a museum got crystallised in her mind.
What makes this work special?
‘Vagabond’ was painted in 1956, after Ram Kumar had returned from a stint studying art in Paris. While abroad, he was profoundly moved by the social and political culture of post-war France. The treatment of the central figure in ‘Vagabond’ reveals the influence of portraiture by Modigliani. His position and posture convey a feeling of alienation, exacerbated by the backdrop of a grim urban setting. The fact that he wears a tie suggests that he is not a vagabond in the literal sense of the word, but a person who feels detached from society. The vagabond is an outsider whose place reflects an existentialist philosophy and the breakdown of community life in the modern western world. There is a thematic parallel with the immensely popular 1955 Hindi film Shree 420, in which Raj Kapoor plays a tramp who drifts into unethical living. The way that Ram Kumar has captured this mood makes ‘Vagabond,’ an iconic work from his figurative period.
Can you briefly comment on the development
of interest in Ram Kumar’s works post the
sale of this work?
NOV — DEC 2012
The work of Ram Kumar plays a critical role in the story of modern art in India and any well-rounded collection of 20th century Indian art would need to include works by this artist. The high price achieved for ‘Vagabond’ has not substantially altered the market for Ram Kumar’s works, which have consistently been in demand by collectors.