The Indian Portrait

An online museum on the fascinating journey of Indian Portraits
from the collection of Anil Relia

Portrait of Ramkinkar Baij

Portrait of Ramkinkar Baij (1906 – 1980) Sculptor & painter Artist K. S. Radhakrishnan (born 1956) dated 1979, Bronze 14.5 x 9.8 in. (36.8 x 24.9 cm.) This evocative bronze portrait of Ramkinkar Baij, was sculpted by K.S. Radhakrishnan, in 1979, while he was a student at Santiniketan. It captures more than just the physical […]

The Dynastic Chair – Self Portrait

The Dynastic Chair – Self Portrait Artist Amit Ambalal (born 1943) dated 1986, Oil on canvas 29.5 x 29.5 in. (74.9 x 74.9 cm.) This self-portrait by Amit Ambalal, is a deeply personal and subtly humorous reflection on the artist’s inner conflict and eventual liberation. Born into a prominent textile mill-owning family in Ahmedabad, Amitbhai […]

Khushwant Singh

Khushwant Singh (1915 – 2014) Indian Lawyer, Author and Journalist Artist Vrindavan Solanki (born 1942) dated 2010, Charcoal on canvas 26 x 20 in. (66 x 50.8 cm.) This striking charcoal portrait was drawn during a live sitting in 2010 at Singh’s residence. Rendered with subtle yet evocative strokes, the portrait captures Singh’s characteristic contemplative […]

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948) a Lawyer, leader of Indian Independence Movement Artist Haku Shah (1934 – 2019) dated 2006, Oil on canvas 24 x 20 in. (61 x 50.8 cm.) Mahatma Gandhi’s Salt March of 1930 was a pivotal act of civil disobedience against British colonial rule. By marching 240 miles from Sabarmati […]

Portrait of Bhupen Khakhar

Portrait of Bhupen Khakhar (1934 – 2003) Artist Madhvi Parekh (born 1942) dated 2017, Reverse painting on acrylic 36 x 30 in. (91.4 x 76.2 cm.) Bhupen Khakhar was one of India’s most celebrated modern artists, known for his bold, personal, and often humorous approach to painting. A self-taught artist from Gujarat, Khakhar’s works explored […]

Portrait of Anupam Sud

Portrait of Anupam Sud (born 1944) Painter, Print maker Artist Jatin Das (born 1941) dated 1999, Ink on paper 20 x 15 in. (50.8 x 38.1 cm.) Anupam Sud is an acclaimed Indian painter and printmaker based in New Delhi, celebrated for her refined intaglio and lithographic works. With a career spanning several decades, she […]

Hemanta Mukhopadhyay

Hemanta Mukhopadhyay (1920 – 1989) Legendary Indian Singer and Composer Artist Bikash Bhattacharjee (1940 – 2006) dated 1979, Watercolor on paper 18 x 13.5 in. (45.7 x 34.3 cm.) Hemanta was one of the most influential cultural figures in 20thcentury India, best known as a playback singer and music director in both Bengali and Hindi […]

Unidentified, A Boy in Green

Unidentified, A Boy in Green Artist Anjolie Ela Menon (born 1940) dated 2024, Oil on masonite board 14.2 x 12 in. (36.1 x 30.5 cm.) This portrait of an unidentified boy, executed in oil on Masonite board by Anjolie Ela Menon, is a striking example of her signature style—lyrical, restrained, and deeply evocative. The boy’s […]

Trinetra: The All – Seeing Wife

Trinetra: The All – Seeing Wife Artist Jogen Chowdhury (born 1939) dated 1980, Watercolour on paper 12 x 9 in. (30.5 x 22.9 cm.) This compelling portrait by Jogen Chowdhury humorously yet poignantly captures the enigmatic aura of a wife through the symbolic presence of a third eye. The exaggerated, wide eyes and the vertical […]

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 – 1948) a Lawyer, leader of Indian Independence Movement Artist A. Ramachandran (1935 – 2024) dated 2019, Ink on paper 15 x 11 in. (38.1 x 27.9 cm.) This charcoal pencil drawing titled “Different Moods of Gandhi” is a preparatory study by renowned artist A. Ramachandran, created in 2019. Composed of […]