Inside the AstaGuru Auction Everyone Will Be Talking About

AstaGuru, India’s leading auction house, is set to unveil its ‘Historic Masterpieces’ auction from 14 – 17 December 2025, bringing together an extraordinary lineup of works by the artists who defined the language of modern Indian art.

Headlining this marquee curation is an exceptional canvas from Tyeb Mehta’s seminal Diagonal Series, featured prominently on the catalogue cover. Executed during the phase when Mehta’s diagonal evolved from a visual experiment into the defining structure of his vocabulary, the work stands as a powerful testament to his most transformative period.

The auction continues its artistic journey with exquisite M. V. Dhurandhar watercolours and evocative pieces by Bengal School luminaries including Jamini Roy, Bikash Bhattacharjee and Asit Haldar, offering a sweeping view of early 20th-century Indian expression.

Collectors will also find significant contributions from stalwarts of the Progressive Artists’ Group, such as F. N. Souza, K. H. Ara, Sadanand Bakre, Krishen Khanna and K. K. Hebbar. These works collectively capture the movement’s spirited departure from academic tradition and its bold pursuit of a newly imagined Indian modernism; each contributing to the evolution of India’s independent artistic vocabulary.

Adding further depth are masterpieces by N. S. Bendre, Jehangir Sabavala, J. Swaminathan and Manjit Bawa, enriching the catalogue with a vibrant spectrum of stylistic philosophies— from lyrical abstraction to spiritual figuration; offering a sweeping view of stylistic and philosophical diversity across the century.

For connoisseurs tracking the rise of blue-chip Indian modernists, this auction marks a moment where rarity meets impeccable provenance.

Together, the works in Historic Masterpieces chart a compelling panorama of India’s 20th-century art evolution. For seasoned collectors, the auction presents a rare opportunity to acquire culturally resonant pieces that continue to define India’s artistic heritage; an exceptional selection of works by India’s most acclaimed artists.

Find their website here

You May Also Read: Inside the Biggest Showstoppers of Dubai Watch Week 2025