Impressionist and Modern Art Day and Works on Paper Sale, 29 June 2022

LONDON - Taking place on 29 June 2022, 1pm at Christie’s in London, The Impressionist and Modern Art Day and Works on Paper sale, part of the 20/21 London to Paris sale series, is led by paintings by 20^th Century masters including a strong German art section encompassing the Deutsche Bank Collection, and sculptures from The David & Laura Finn Collection. Highlights include Paul Gauguin’s Vue de Rouen (1884, estimate: £800,000 – 1,200,000, illustrated page above, left), one of the artist’s en plein air paintings from his time living in the French city of Rouen. The execution of this painting prefigures Gauguin’s leading role in the Pont-Aven movement and his renowned Tahitian paintings. Camille Pissarro’s Paysannes portant un panier (1888, estimate: £450,000 – 650,000, illustrated page two, left) exemplifies the rural portraiture that preoccupied Pissarro for over two decades, resulting in some of his best known works. Hannah Höch’s surrealist work Doppelkopf (c. 1946, estimate: £200,000 – 300,000) which depicts a mysterious double headed figure, with some forms in the painting reminiscent of Höch’s commercial textile designs. 

Four works from a private European collection are being sold to benefit a charitable foundation.  The group is led by Joan Miró’s Tête bleue (1962, estimate: £200,000 – 300,000),  part of a series of 54 works referred to as cartones, each executed on a rectangle of board; it depicts Miró’s symbolic treatment of the tête, a motif that the artist often returned to.

A section of the sale is dedicated to German art. Gabriele Münter’s Lampe im Fenster (c.1912, estimate: £200,000-300,000) is presented alongside a selection of 19 works from the Deutsche Bank Collection. A further highlight from the collection is Wilhelm Lehmbruck’s sculpture Weiblicher torso (Große Stehende) (1910, estimate: £150,000 – 250,000) which was exhibited in Frankfurt at the Städel Museum in 1980.

‘The Eye Of A Sculptor: Works From The David & Laura Finn Collection’, offers a selection of work across the 20^th / 21^st Century: London Evening Sale as well as the Impressionist and Modern Day and Works on Paper Sale. On 29 June, the group is led by Henry Moore’s Horse (1984, Estimate: £400,000 – 600,000).

Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale, London, 1 July 2022

LONDON – On 1 July 2022, 1pm at Christie’s in London, The Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale, London also part of the 20/21 London to Paris sale series, offers artworks by both established and contemporary names. Pop Art is a focus in the Day Sale, featuring a number of key works by Andy Warhol, John Wesley and Richard Pettibone.  Warhol drew his own rendition of the dollar sign, which he then enlarged and developed into a series of silkscreened paintings, exemplified in Dollar Sign, (1981, estimate: £400,000 - 600,000). In light of the recent Platinum Jubilee celebrations, there are two portraits of Queen Elizabeth II by Andy Warhol both screenprints from the Reigning Queens (Royal Edition) and executed in 1985 (red version, estimate: £250,000 - 350,000, blue version, estimate: £200,000-300,000). This follows from the recent record breaking sale on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s New York, where the Shot Sage Blue Marilyn by Andy Warhol sold for $195 million from The Collection of Thomas and Doris Ammann Evening Sale. This established it as the most expensive 20^th century artwork to sell at auction.

Enrico Castellani’s Superficie Bianca from 1983 (estimate: £350,000-550,000) leads a section dedicated to Italian artists, and also includes Lucio Fontana’s Concetto spaziale (1959, £180,000-250,000) and two embroidered works by Alighiero Boetti; Quando le parole sono stanche (When the Words are Tired) (1987, £20,000-30,000) and Per nuovi desideri (For New Desires) (c. 1987, estimate: £20,000–30,000).

Reflecting the far-reaching influence of the German artists presented in the Impressionist Day Sale, the Post-War and Contemporary Art Day Sale showcases Georg Baselitz‘s Schwarzer Kopf mit blauem Ohr (Black Head with Blue Ear), (1985, estimate: £280,000 – 350,000) and Günther Förg’s spot painting Untitled (2008, estimate: £200,000 – 300,000).

The 59^th Venice Biennale featured leading female artists throughout its programme. Mirroring this focus, the Day Sale offers key work by pioneering painters; Claire Tabouret’s Makeup (Blue Earrings) (2017, estimate: £100,000 – 150,000, illustrated page 2 left), Paula Rego’s Stretched, (2009, estimate: £150,000 – 250,000) and Eileen Agar’s Self-Portrait (1952, estimate: £8,000 – 12,000).

Representing the best in contemporary practice, Joy Labinjo’s The Real Thugs of Britain (2020, estimate: £40,000-60,000) belongs to a series which marked her first response to the Black Lives Matter protests, drawing on photographs of protestors, police officers and businessmen.

First Open: Post-War and Contemporary Art Online, 21 June - 5 July 2022

ONLINE – Open for bidding online between 21 June – 5 July 2022, the First Open: Post-War and Contemporary Art Online sale part of the 20/21 London to Paris sale series, comprises works by contemporary artists, many of which are being offered in an auction platform for the first time.  Vibrant paintings by Auudi Dorsey, Paid Dues (2021, estimate: £5,000 - GBP 7,000), Matthew Eguavoen’s New School, Old Identity, 2021, estimate: £5,000 - 7,000, and Enoch Chinweuba’s Love Again (2021, estimate: £2,000 - 3,000) offer collectors at all stages an opportunity to acquire work by emerging artists.

Christie’s is collaborating with Art for Tropical Forests, a charity set up by visionary art dealer Ernst Beyeler in 2002, combining his passion for art and dedication to the protection and conservation of tropical forests worldwide. Proceeds from the sale of twelve artworks across the 20/21 London to Paris sale series will be used to strengthen Art for Tropical Forests’ diverse programming which includes habitat preservation, reforestation, forestry stewardship, and the strengthening of local communities. Sabine Moritz’s Cheerful Spleen IV, (2022, estimate: £20,000 - 30,000, illustrated page three left) is a highlight and features alongside work by Thilo Heinzmann, Beatriz Milhazes, Wade Guyton, Andreas Gursky and Bosco Sodi.

Caroline Walker’s Study for Home Visit, (2016, estimate: £20,000 - 30,000, illustrated page 3 right) is a leading example of contemporary portraiture and points to a new direction for figuration. Works on paper offer viewers an intimate perspective on an artist’s oeuvre and working practice. The sale also includes Flora Yukhnovich’s Study (2021, estimate: £15,000-20,000) and Cristina Banban’s Mel II (2018, estimate: £2,000 - 3,000).