Precio récord para obra india

Francis Newton Souza (1924-2002) es considerado uno de los artistas contemporáneos más importantes de la India.

Indian painting sold at record price

The auction house, Christie's, says the sale of a painting by the Indian artist, Francis Newton Souza, has set a record for an Indian work of art. Souza's 1955 painting, Birth, was sold for more than $2.5m. From our South Asia desk, Jason Caffrey reports:

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A Christie's official said the sale of Francis Newton Souza's oil painting, Birth, had set a world auction record for the artist - and for any Indian modern art. Souza, who died in 2002, was born in Goa and lived in Britain and America. He painted his record-breaking picture in London in the mid-fifties. Christie's describe that time as the peak of Souza's career - and the auction house says that Birth is the best painting he produced in this period.

The picture was previously in a private collection in the United States. It shows a nude woman in labour, lying on her back with her eyes closed in concentration. Standing to her left is a man who bears a striking resemblance to the artist himself.

The Indian art critic, Madhu Jain, says Souza's work has always fetched high prices. She describes him as controversial and ahead of his time, and says he was one of India's most significant artists. Now Souza's portrayal of a woman about to give birth has become the most valuable modern painting by an Indian artist in the world.

Jason Caffrey, BBC

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set a world auction record for the artist
rompió un récord mundial en subasta para el artista

record-breaking picture
su cuadro batidor del récord

the peak
(la época de) máximo apogeo

in labour
dando a luz o de parto

in concentration
(con sus ojos cerrados) concentrándose

bears a striking resemblance to
(un señor que) se parece mucho

fetched high prices
(las obras de Souza siempre) se han vendido a precios altos

controversial
controvertido o polémico

ahead of his time
(un artista) muy adelantado a su época

portrayal
retrato

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