Indian mural that spent decades on Norwegian hospital wall sells for record $13.8m

A forgotten oil-on-canvas masterpiece by Indian painter MF Husain has been rediscovered. This artwork has rewritten the record books for Indian art.

Husain's painting, Untitled (Gram Yatra), is a 14-foot-wide mural. It sold for an unprecedented $13.8 million (£10.6 million) at a Christie's auction in New York last week. This sale shattered the previous record of $7.4 million (£5.7 million) set by Amrita Sher-Gil's The Story Teller in 2023.

Husain, who died in 2011 at age 95, was a pioneer of Indian modernism. He remains an inspiration for many Indian artists today. In 2006, he left India due to death threats from Hindu hardline groups over his depictions of deities.

For nearly five decades, this record-breaking painting hung in a Norwegian hospital. It was overlooked and undervalued until now, becoming a defining work of modern South Asian art.

Husain painted Gram Yatra in 1954, long before he became famous. The name means "village journey," which reflects its themes.

The painting features 13 vignettes that showcase Indian village life. These snapshots blend Indian folk traditions with modernist influences and resemble narrative paintings from India's miniature tradition.

In Gram Yatra, Husain used vibrant earthy tones to depict everyday scenes. Women are shown cooking, caring for children, and riding carts.

One frame shows a farmer extending his arm as if holding land from the next frame. This symbolizes the farming roots of Indian society.

Nishad Avari from Christie's said this artwork defines modern South Asian art perfectly.

He noted that Husain's travels influenced his work significantly. His trip to China in 1952 introduced him to calligraphic brushwork seen in the painting's expressive strokes.

After India's independence, Husain found inspiration not in Paris or New York but in rural India. He mirrored Mahatma Gandhi’s belief that the nation’s heart lies in its villages.

According to biographer Akhilesh, Husain's deep engagement with India's culture shaped how people viewed their lives and thoughts.

The painting also shows early signs of Husain's modified cubist style with geometric shapes and bold lines.

The journey of this painting adds to its mystique. It was purchased for just $295 by Ukrainian doctor Leon Elias Volodarsky during a WHO mission in India back in 1954.

After taking it to Norway, it hung on the walls of Oslo University Hospital for nearly fifty years without much notice from the art world.

This changed when Christie's learned about it in 2013—two years after Husain’s death—leading to global exhibitions before this record-breaking sale occurred.

Ashish Anand, CEO of DAG (formerly Delhi Art Gallery), believes this sale will elevate the value of all of Husain’s works. He thinks it will help people see Indian art as more than just aesthetic; it can be viewed as a serious financial asset too.