Property of a GentlemanMohan Sharma1942 - 1988UntitledAcrylic on canvasSigned indistinctly and dated '72' upper right and further signed and dated 'Mohan Sharma 72' on reverse36 x 24 in. (91.4 x 61 cm.)Painted in 1972Acquired in New Delhi circa 1972 by an American diplomatThence by descentBorn in 1942 to a miniature painter family, Mohan Sharma graduated from the Sir J.J. School of Art in 1965. Traditional techniques formed the cornerstone of his early work, and Sharma was a skilled miniaturist who sought to develop the art form for the twentieth century. However, he explored other, modern approaches in his oeuvre, and the present work is a clear example of Sharma’s cross-category proficiency. The striking use of geometric shapes in a flattened picture plane shows the artist’s trained eye in depicting the world. From his training in miniature painting, Sharma was precisely aware of built landscapes, and Untitled showcases his expert ability to articulate spatial dimension within a Cubist context.