Day Sale
Sotheby's New York
10 A.M., November 3, 2011 (Lots 101-257)
2 P.M., November 3, 2011 (Lots 301-436)
Sale 8790
Lot 394, untitled, by Robert Marc, oil on canvas, 25 5/8 21 1/4 inches
This day auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby's New York November 3, 2011 is highlighted by some lovely works by Robert Marc, James Ensor, Franticek Kupka, Giorgio de Chirico, Jean Metzinger, Pierre Bonnard, Auguste Herbin and Pablo Picasso.
The two loveliest works are portraits of women.
Lot 394, shown above, is a stunning Cubist-style portrait of a woman in black by Robert Marc (1943-1993). An oil on canvas, it measures 25 5/8 by 21 1/4 inches. It has a modest estimate of $6,000 to $8,000. It sold for $28,750 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
The catalogue entry notes that "Influenced by both the political excitement of 1960s Paris and the austere legacy of the Russian Avant-Gardes, Robert Marc produced a prolific Cubist oeuvre that garnered the attention of American, European, and Japanese collectors in the last decades of the twentieth century. Only recently rediscovered in the wake of the artist's untimely death in 1993, the French-born, Swiss-raised painter's stimulating geometric work reflects his visual sensibility, keen eye and painterly expertise."
Lot 101, ""Femme au Chapeau à Plumes," a watercolor and pencil on paper by Jean Metzinger (1883-1956). 10 1/2 by 8 inches, executed circa 1913
Lot 101 is "Femme au Chapeau à Plumes," a watercolor and pencil on paper by Jean Metzinger (1883-1956). It measures 10 1/2 by 8 inches and was executed circa 1913. In addition to its fine Cubist composition, the work is unusual in that the artist has drawn the women's hat above the rectangular format of the composition. The lot has a modest estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $40,625.
Lot 105, "Etude pour Plans Par Courbes," gouache and pencil on paper, 9 by 9 1/8 inches, circa 1926, above; Lot 106, "Abstratino Colorée," watercolor and gouache on paper, 8 3/8 inches square, circa 1920, below; both by Franticeck Kupka
The auction has two small but beautiful works on paper by Franticek Kupka (1871-1957). Lot 105 is entitled "Etude pour Plans Par Courbes," a gouache and pencil on paper, 9 by 9 1/8 inches. It was painted circa 1926 and has an modest estimate of $10,000 to $15,000 It sold for $28,125. Lot 106 is entitled"Abstraction Colorée," and is a watercolor and gouache on paper that measures 8 3/8 inches square and was executed circa 1920. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000 and sold for $25,000.
Lot 122, "Démons," by James Ensor, oil and black chalk on canvas, 25 7/8 by 32 inches, 1933
The imaginative works of James Ensor (1860-1949) are exotic and mythical and mysterious. Sometimes they conjure Hierymonios Bosch and sometimes Archimboldo. Very often he is fascinated by masks. Lot 122 is entitled "Démons" and is an oil and black chalk on canvas that measures 25 7/8 by 32 inches. It was painted in 1933. It has a estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 204, "La Rencontre," by James Ensor, oil on canvas, 18 1/4 by 25 3/4inches, 1912
A more complete and compelling Ensoris Lot 204,"La Rencontre,"a 1912 oil on canvas that mreausres 18 1/4 by 23 3/4 inches. Its stormy clouds and colorful costumes conjures some scenes by Gainsborough. The artist perferred a sketchy technique that added to the vibrancy and dynamics of his images. This lot has a modest estimate of $120,000 to $180,000 It failed to sell.
Lot 318, "Torino Metafisica," by Giorgio de Chirico, oil on canvas, 19 3/4 by 15 3/4 inches, 1951
Lot 375, "Le Char d'Apollon et Le Dragon," by Odilon Redon," oil on board, 20 5/8 by 26 5/8 inches, circa 1907
Lot 115, "Nature Morte," by Auguste Herbin, oil on board, 39 3/8 by 27 1/4 inches, 1911
Lot 166, "La Maison au Bord du Chemin ou Maisons sur La Falaise," by Pierre Bonnard, oil on cradled board, 14 1/2 by 18 inches, 1918