Klaus Kertess (1940-2016) was a well-known art dealer, essayist, and curator described by Paul Goldberger as, “…one of the few figures of authority in the art world who has a built a reputation on his work, not on his ties to any institution.” With a discriminating and unwavering eye for new art works emerging, generally in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, Kertess’ reputation was well-regarded. After graduating from Andover and Yale, Kertess started his own gallery with support from a fellow Yale-graduate, Jeff Byers. Bykert Gallery was run under Kertess’ supervision for nearly a decade and flourished during that time. Kertess moved towards the art museum sphere when he departed from Bykert Gallery, serving as curator at Parrish Art Museum in Southampton for nine years and as an adjunct curator of drawings at Whitney Museum. His most notable contribution to the Whitney was curating the 1995 Biennial where he sought to “...proclaim the primacy of visual language.”Despite Kertess’ preference for modernist painting and sculpture that gave precedence to formal qualities, he was not averse to opening his mind to other modes of making and introducing young artists into the ever-changing discourse of the art world. Kertess’ career was integral to the success of many contemporary artists and it is a unique opportunity to present a selection of South and Southeast Asian works from his collection (lots 645-649 and 634).

An Illustration to a Ragamala Series: Kacheli Ragini

India, Pahari Region, Bilaspur, second quarter 18th century

Details

An Illustration to a Ragamala Series: Kacheli Ragini
India, Pahari Region, Bilaspur, second quarter 18th century
Opaque pigments and gold on paper
7 1/8 x 5 3/8 in. (18.3 x 13.5 cm.)

Lot Essay

Characteristic of ragamala compositions from Bilaspur, the present example shows the ragini placed in front of a finely rendered white building, backed by a solid color with a thin strip of blue sky and thin white clouds. The figures are delineated with graceful forms and ovoid heads with long profiles, distinctive features of the painting style from Bilaspur. The sweet countenance, soft palette and light vegetation give the work a delicate and naturalistic expression typical of paintings from this period and region. For a work strikingly similar in composition and style, see the Devagiri Ragini at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (17.3218).

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