By Carter B. Horsley This Impressionist & Modern Art day auction at Sotheby's November 6, 2003 is highlighted by a delicate and lovely watercolor by Piet Mondrian, a fine Cubist painting by Jean Metzinger, three nice drawings by Vincent van Gogh, a superb watercolor and a good painting by Wassily Kandinsky, a three fine seascapes by Eugene Boudin, a strong landscape by Maurice de Vlaminck, an interesting landscape by Pierre Bonnard, two good works by Kees van Dongen, an impressive pastel sketch by Mary Cassatt, two good drawings by Honoré Daumier, a good seascape by James Ensor, a good still life by Louis Marcoussis, a stunning portrait by Tamara de Lempicka, a good Joan Miró, good Cubist compositions by Henri Laurens and Albert Gleizes, two interesting works by Max Ernst, a fabulous drawing and a sumptuous oil painting by André Masson, and a very good drawing by Pablo Picasso. Henry Moore and Marc Chagall are also nicely represented in this auction. Lot 204 is an exquisite watercolor on paper of a chrysanthemum by Piet Mondrian (1872-1944). Although Mondrian is best known for his geometric abstractions, he also was fascinated by trees and flowers and this 13 3/8-by-9 ½-inch watercolor on paper is very beautiful. It was executed circa 1925 and has been consigned by the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. It has a modest estimate of $80,000 to $100,000. It sold for $181,600 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
Lot 212A is a lovely Cubist oval composition by Jean Metzinger (1883-1956) entitled "Femme à sa Toilette." The oil on canvas measures 36 ¼ by 23 5/8 inches and was painted in 1918. It has a modest estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $310,400.
Another nice Cubist work is Lot 212, "Paysage au moulin à vent," by Albert Gleizes (1881-1953). An oil on canvas that measures 22 ¼ by 15 ½ inches, it was painted in 1913. It has an estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It failed to sell.
Eugène Boudin (1824-1898) is highly regarded as an important precursor to the Impressionists especially for his beach and harbor scenes. Lot 103, "Bateaux de Peche," is a lovely seascape by the artist that is a strong composition with lively brushwork. An oil on canvas, it measures 16 ½ by 21 7/8 inches. Executed in 1887, it has an estimate $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $198,400. The auction has two other good seascapes by Boudin, Lots 116 and 125. The former is entitled "Port de Trouville, Maree Haute," and is an oil on cradled panel that measures 12 ½ by 16 inches. It has an estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $207,600. The latter is entitled "La Cote de Brest dans la Rade (Estuaire aux Environs de Camaret)." An oil on canvas, it measures 11 ¾ by 18 ½ inches and was painted circa 1871-3. It has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It failed to sell.
The auction has three drawings by Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890). Lot 132A, "Allee Bordee d'Arbes," is a strong vertical composition. A pencil, brush and white chalk on paper, it measures 8 1/8 by 4 7/8 inches. Executed in 1884, it has a modest estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It failed to sell. Lot 130 is another van Gogh drawing, which is entitled "Pecheur," and measures 18 ½ by 9 7/8 inches. Executed in 1883, the work is not signed but is a highly detailed study of a fisherman and has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $232,000. The third van Gogh drawing is Lot 138, which is entitled "Moissonneur à La Faucille (d'Après Millet)." A pencil on sepia wash on paper that measures 22 by 12 inches, it was executed in 1881 and has an estimate of $350,000 to $450,000. It failed to sell.
Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) is one of the giants of abstract act and Lot 214 is a very elegant watercolor and pen and pencil abstraction on paper. Entitled "Konzentrisch (Concentric), it measures 13 ¾ by 9 inches and was executed in 1924. It has a modest estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It sold for $142,400. While we are accustomed to Kandinsky's wild abstractions, his earlier work was quite different. Lot 220, a depiction of the Murnau coastline, is a very strong, dark and abstract landscape. Painted in 1908, the oil on board measures 13 by 16 1/8 inches and has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $265,600.
Kees van Dongen (1877-1968) is known for his occasionally brazen portraits but Lot 170 is a rather cheery portrait of an exotic bird. Executed in 1908, the oil on canvas measures 18 1/8 by 15 inches. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $60,000.
Maurice de Vlaminck (1876-1958) was a very important Fauve painter whose early works were extremely bold in their palette. Lot 188, "Les Toits d'un Village," is an interesting townscape that shows the influence of Cézanne" as well as a darkening of his palette. An oil on canvas that measures 21 ¾ by 21 ½ inches, it has a modest estimate of $90,000 to $120,000. It sold for $187,200.
Honoré Daumier (1808-1879) is a great artist whose paintings tend to be rather dark. Lot 118, however, "Tete d'homme," is a small but quite bright and magnificent drawing of the head of a man. The pen and ink and ink wash on paper measures only 4 7/8 by 3 ¾ inches but almost seems like a large Rembrandt portrait. It has a conservative estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $28,800. Another Daumier of interest is Lot 121, "Apollon," a quite detailed pen and ink, watercolor and chaulk on paper. Executed circa 1853, it measures 11 1/8 by 8 1/8 inches and has a modest estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It failed to sell. James Ensor (1860-1949) is best known for his quite eerie and abstract depictions of masks, but Lot 184 shows his Turnesque influence in a seascape that is quite interesting. Entitled "Bateaux au Soleil," it is an oil on canvas that measures 21 ¾ by 26 ½ inches. Executed between 1923 and 1930, it has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It sold for $96,000.
Tamara de Lempicka (1898-1980) was a very stylish portrait painter and Lot 233 is a great small work by her that epitomizes the Art Deco style. Entitled "La Polonaise," it is an oil on panel that measures 13 ¾ by 10 ½ inches. It was painted in 1933 and has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $433,600.
Lot 256 is a fabulous Surrealist drawing by André Masson (1896-1987) entitled "Femme violoncelle, instrument anthropomorphique." An India ink on paper, it measures 14 ¾ by 20 ¾ inches and was executed in 1942. It has a modest estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $33,600. Another fine Masson is Lot 285, "Nu Eclaire Par Le Feu," an oil on canvas that measures 49 ½ by 40 ¾ inches. Painted circa 1946, it is extremely painterly with a very "hot" palette. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $142,400.
Max Ernst (1891-1876) is represented in the auction with two nice works, Lots 261 and 265. The former is untitled and appears to illustrate two birds within a frame against a light blue gray background. An oil on panel mounted on card, it measures 21 ½ by 17 7/8 inches and was executed circa 1961. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $100,000. It sold for $84,000.
The other Ernst is Lot 265, a very painterly still life that was executed in 1948. An oil on canvas, it measures 12 1/8 by 10 inches. It has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $170,400.
Among several pleasant works in the auction by Marc Chagall (1887-1985) is Lot 300, "Jour et Nuit." This charming small oil on canvas laid down on plywood measures 11 7/8 by 9 ¾ inches. Executed circa 1965, it has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It is rather unusual in its strong vertical separation. It sold for $108,000.
Lot 293 is a very complex and fine pen and ink and inkwash drawing by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) over linocut rincé, printed in white, on paper. The work measures 24 ½ by 29 ½ inches and is very imposing. Executed in 1964, it has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.