An enigma called Amrita

BUSINESS CLASS

India's first modern painter continues to capture our imagination.

With every passing decade the legend of Amrita Shergill continues to grow. Born in 1913, Shergill produced some of Indian art's most seminal works in a career that lasted about a decade.

Masterpieces such as "Brahamacharis", "South Indian Villagers Going to Market" and " Brides Toilet" are are very important works of the 20th century.

December 5, 2005 marked Shergill's 64th death anniversary, and though much has been written about her, we wonder if it's her work or her personality and her extraordinary life that continues to dazzle us.

India's first modern painter Shergill, as a student at Ecole des Baux Arts in Paris excelled very early in producing portraits of people around her. She was the first Indian to win a gold medal in France.

But it was her interaction with India later that made her produce the work we are most familiar with. After discovering the beauty of Indian miniatures, she travelled to Ajanta, Ellora and south India and worked effortlessly to blend her Western academic excellence with Indian ethos.

Every time we think we know enough about Shergill we discover exciting aspects of her work. Artist Vivan Sundaram has done some excellent work on Shergill, his aunt, and in the process shared with us some of the most intimate aspects of her life. Next year, Yashodhra Dalmia will release the much awaited biography on Shergill while Vivan Sundaram will hold an exclusive exhibition on her in Germany.

As a collector, what intrigues me is that Shergill is the Indian equivalent of a Vermeer. She's rare and, as a result, no one can put a price on her work. What's interesting is that she made just 175 paintings in all, most of which are with the National Gallery of Modern Art. The remaining are with her families in India and Hungary.

Tyeb Mehta, who sells for over $1,000,000, has seen over 50 of his works sell at auction as compared to Shergill who has had only two works auctioned. Undoubtedly, if a major Shergill were to come up at auction, it would be the most expensive painting ever to sell in India.

After all these years what do we love about Shergill? Her aristocratic lineage, Parisian education, bohemian lifestyle, sexual encounters, beauty, eternal youth or, then, her simply her work? Perhaps all "" that's what legends are about.