In a remarkable moment for Indian art, Tyeb Mehta’s emotionally charged painting Trussed Bull smashed expectations at Saffronart’s 5th Anniversary Live Auction in Mumbai on April 2. The 1956 masterpiece was sold for a staggering ₹61.80 crore, nearly nine times its estimated value, leaving collectors, critics, and art enthusiasts stunned.
Trussed Bull is not just a painting; it’s an emotional outcry frozen in oil. The artwork portrays a bull, limbs tightly bound, its agony palpable. Yet, despite the violence of the act, the bull remains eerily still, a stillness that haunts more than movement ever could. Deep reds and muddy browns dominate the canvas, while a deliberately bare background forces the viewer’s attention solely on the suffering beast.
For Mehta, the bull wasn’t merely an animal, it was a powerful metaphor. Having grown up walking past slaughterhouses in Mumbai, the artist was deeply affected by the imagery of strength subdued and life bound. The piece is a window into his psyche, showcasing how personal experiences shaped his artistic expression.
A fitting tribute in his centenary year
The timing of the auction couldn’t be more symbolic. 2025 marks the 100th birth anniversary of Tyeb Mehta, born in Gujarat and educated at the renowned Sir JJ School of Art. This sale stands as a tribute to his immense legacy and impact on Indian modernism.
A tie at the top… for now
With this record-breaking sale, Trussed Bull now shares its place as the second most expensive Indian painting ever sold, tying with Amrita Sher-Gil’s The Story Teller, which fetched the same amount in 2023.
Still, the title of the highest-priced Indian artwork remains with M.F. Husain’s Untitled, which stunned the art world with a ₹118 crore price tag at an auction in New York just a month ago.
The soul of the canvas
While these record-breaking figures make headlines, the real value of Mehta’s work lies in its raw emotion and bold storytelling. His art was never just about aesthetics, it was about confronting discomfort, exploring pain, and exposing contradictions. Trussed Bull is a striking example of this, reminding us that behind every brushstroke is a story that still resonates.
As Indian art continues to rise on the global stage, the world remains captivated by the honesty, depth, and vision that legends like Tyeb Mehta brought to the canvas.
