Art/Auctions: Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie's New York November 7, 2012

Impressionist and Modern Art

Christie's New York

7 P.M., November 7, 2012

Sale 2594

Lot 41, "Nymphéas," by Claude Monet, oil on canvas, 34 3/4 by 38 1/4 inches, 1905

By Carter B. Horsley

The Impressionist & Modern Art evening auction November 7, 2012 at Christie's New York is highlighted by a great painting by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944), several very fine watercolors by Emil Nolde (1867-1956), two excellent paintings by Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956), several very good works by Joan Miró (1893-1983), several good works by Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), a nice waterlily painting by Claude Monet (1840-1926), and a superb riverscape by Alfred Sisley (1839-1899).

Lot 41, "Nymphéas," is a large painting of waterlilies by Claude Monet that was executed in 1905. An oil on canvas, it measures 34 3/8 by 38 1/4 inches. It has an estimate of $30,000,000 to $50,000,000. It sold for $43,762,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The auction total was $204,800,000, which was short of the pre-sale low estimate of $209,250,000. The auction had been scheduled to be the second major auction of this season but Sotheby's New York postponed its auction, which would have been the first, to November 8, 2012. Of the 69 offered lots at Christie's, only 48 sold, or 70 percent, a disappointing figure for a major evening auction.

Andreas Rumbler, the auctioneer for the sale and deputy chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art for Christie's in Zurich, Erin McAndrew, head of the communications department for the auction house, and Brooke Lampley, the head of the department for Christie's at news conference after the auction

The auction was conducted by Andreas Rumbler, deputy chairman of Impressionist & Modern Art for Christie's in Zurich, who handled the sale nicely and said at the press conference after the auction that "It's a great honor to take the sale. Big shoes to fill. Very exciting." Brooke Lampley, the head of the department for Christie's, said that "there was a good amount of discretionary selling indicating a feeling of confidence in the market."

Lot 3, "Bateaux de peche, temps calme," by Claude Monet, oil on canvas, 25 1/4 by 21 1/4 inches, 1868

Lot 3 is a pleasant oil on canvas by Claude Monet entitled "Bateaux de peche, temps calme." It measures 25 1/4 by 21 1/4 inches and was painted in 1868. It has been widely published and exhibited. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $2,098,500.

Lot 47, "Studie fur Improvisation 8," by Wassily Kandinsky, oil on card mounted on canvas, 38 5/8 by 27 1/2 inches, 1909

Lot 47 is a stunning oil on card mounted on canvas by Wassily Kandinsky that is entitled "Studie fur Improvisation 8." It measures 38 5/8 by 27 1/2 inches and was painted in 1909. It is property of the Volkart Foundation of Switzerland and has been widely exhibited and published.

The catalogue provides the following commentary about Kandinsky's art at the time:

"In his Murnau landscapes and the Improvisations of 1909 Kandinsky forged a distinctively Russian brand of Fauvism, which is also manifest in the concurrent work of Munter and Jawlensky. These painters made the experience of light, as transformed into color, a far more subjective and intensely emotional process than did the French Fauves. For the latter, color was an observable, analyzable and translatable phenomenon of nature that could be altered to suit their pictorial rationale or theories. For the Russian painters, the powers of expression inherent in color were strongly related to symbolic and spiritual sources; they followed the forceful impulse of expressionism as it exhorted them to seek the pictorial outcome which most closely reflected the deeply intuitive emotional imperatives that motivated them. The deeply resonant colors of Kandinsky and his closest colleagues also stemmed from shared and deeply ingrained traditions rooted in their native decorative and folkloric arts and their ideas of linear form were strongly influenced by the primitively printed, popular Russian broadsheets known as lubki which frequently illustrated themes from the Old and New Testaments. Kandinsky has in this Studie zu Improvisation 8 deliberately intensified and heightened the chromatic impact of each tone in itself and in juxtaposition with others, and by simplifying the linear aspect of his imagery he has heightened its visual impact, with the result that we no longer witness the straight forward depiction of nature nor the illustrative recreation of human events and history but instead we experience in the most profound way the transfiguration of these subjects into a visionary state of mind - in pictures of dazzling and ecstatic radiance, as pure and rarified in their technique, as noble and uplifting in intent, as may be found nowhere else in early modern vanguard painting."

Detail of Lot 47

It has an estimate of $20,000,000 to $30,000,000. It sold for $23,042,500, breaking the previous world auction for the artist that had been set May 17, 1990 when his painting "Fugue" sold at Sotheby's in New York for $20,900,000.

Kandinsky abstract

Lot 50, "Bindung," by Wassily Kandinsky, oil on canvas, 27 1/2 by 23 5/8 inches, 1932

Lot 50 is a strong abstraction by Wassily Kandinsky that was painted in 1932. An oil on canvas, it measures 27 1/2 by 23 5/8 inches. It has been widely exhibited and publsihed. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It was passed at $1,500,000.

Kandinsky 3

Lot 52, "Zwei Schwarze Flecke," by Wassily Kandinsky, watercolor and brush and India ink on paper, 18 3/4 by 12 7/8 inches, 1923

Lot 52 is a classic geometric abstraction by Wasssily Kandinsky, entitled "Zwei Schwarze Flecke" A watercolor and brush and India ink on paper, it measures 18 3/4 to 12 7/8 inches and was executed in 1923. It has an estimate of $1,800,000 to $2,400,000. It was passed at 1,600,000.

Lot 25, "Meer mit Abendhimmel und Segelboot," by Emil Nolde, watercolor on Japan paper, 13 1/4 by 17 7/8 inches, circa 1930

The auction has an extremely handsome group of watercolors by Emil Nolde, the great German Expressionist. Lot 25, "Meer mit Abendhimmel und Segelboot," measures 13 1/4 by 17 78 inches and was executed circa 1930. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $530,500.

Lot 24, "Herbsthimmel am Meer," by Emil Nolde, watercolor on Japan paper, 14 1/4 by 20 inches, circa 1940

Another very beautiful and ravishing Nolde watercolor on Japan paper is Lot 24, "Herbsthimmel am Meer." It measures 14 1/4 by 20 inches and was executed circa 1940. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $698,500.

Lot 49, "Trompetenblaser im Dorf," by Lyonel Feininger, oil on canvas, 23 3/4 by 29 3/4 inches, 1915

Lot 49 is superb oil on canvas by Lyonel Feininger (1871-1956) entitled "Trompetenblaser im Dorf." It measures 23 3/4 by 29 3/4 inches and was painted in 1915. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It was passed at $2,900,000. It has the exaggerated bodies and wild palette of his other paintings of the period, but is distinguished by its bold patterning of lines. The catalogue notes the Feininger's paintings of this period are "a series of masquerade compositions, which depict colorful processions of musicians, bourgeois villagers, harlequins, and prostitutes set against the background of what he called 'the city at the end of the world' pulstating in the thrumming pictorial space."

Lot 32, "Der Raddampfer III," by Lyonel Feininger, oil on canvas, 40 by 49 1/2 inches, 1928

Lot 32 is a large, fine, oil on canvas by Feininger entitled "Der Raddampfer III." It measures 40 by 49 1/2 inches and was painted in 1928. It is similar to a work in the Detroit Institute of Art. It has anestimate of $6,000,000 to $8,000,000. It was passed at $4,800,000.

Lot 19, "Peinture (Femme, Journal, Chien)," by Joan Miró, oil on canvas, 36 1/4 by 28 3/4 inches, 1925

Lot `19 is a large and lively oil on canvas by Joan Miró, one of the great poets of Surrealism, entitled "Peinture (Femme, Journal, Chien)." It measures 36 1/4 by 28 3/4 inches and was painted in 1925. It has an estimate of $12,000,000 to $18,000,000. It sold for $13,746,500.

Lot 46, "Personnages et oiseau das la nuit," by Joan Miró, oil and pastel on canvas, 8 1/4 by 11 1/2 inches, 1944.

Miró's works are generally very jolly and happy as evidenced by Lot 46, "Personnages et oiseau dan la nuit," an oil and pastel on canvas that measures 8 1/4 by 11 1/2 inches. Although small, it might as well be gigantic. It was executed in 1944. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,314,500.

Lot 22, "Dormeurs reveillespar un oiseau," by Miró, gouache and watercolor on paper, 16 1/8 by 13 inches, 1939

Lot 22, "Dormeurs reveilles par un oiseau,"is a very good gouache and watercolor on papere by Miró. It measures 16 1/8 by 13 inches and was executed in 1939. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $3,778,500.

Miró 4

Lot 63, "Femme," by Joan Miró, oil on canvas, 24 by 20 inches, 1969

Lot 63 is a strong oil on canvas by Joan Miró that is entitled "Femme." It measures 24 by 20 inches and was painted in 1969. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $1,000,000. It sold for $1,314,500.

Lot 10, "Hameau aux environs de Pontoise,"by Camille Pissarro, oil on canvas, 21 1/4 by 29 1/8 inches, 1872

Lot 10 is a great oil on canvas by Camille Pissarro entitled "Hameau aux environs de Pontoise." It measures 21 1/4 by 29 1/8 inches and was painted in 1872. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. It sold for $4,394,500.

Lot 68, "Le village de Champagne au coucher du soleil, Avril," by Alfred Sisley, oil on canvas, 19 3/4 by 29 inches, 1885

Lot 68 is a very great Impressionist oil on canvas by Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) entitled "Le village de Champagne au coucher du soleil, Avril." It measures 19 3/4 by 29 inches and was painted in 1885. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $962,500.

Lot 9, "Saint-Mammès-le soir," by Alfred Sisley, oil on canvas, 15 by 22 inches, 1885

Another excellent oil on canvas by Sisley is Lot 9, "Saint-Mammès-le soir," which measures 15 by 22 inches and was painted in 1885. It was once in the collection of Joseph Stransky who was conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 1911 to 1923 and then a partner at E. Gimpel & Wildenstein. It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $782,500.

Lot 54, "Femme au chien," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 57 1/2 by 45 inches, 1962

Lot 54 is a very pleasant and large painting by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) of his wife Jacqueline Rogue and their Afghan hound, Kaboul. An oil on canvas, it measures 57 1/2 by 45 inches and was painted in 1962. It has an estimate of $5,000,000 to $7,000,000. It sold for $6,354,500.

Lot 5, "Tete de Femme," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 18 by 15 inches, 1952

Lot 5 is a very strong and vibrant "head of a woman" by Pablo Picasso. An oil on canvas that measures 18 by 15 inches, it was painted in 1952. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It sold for $5,234,500.

Lot 37, "Buste de femme," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 28 3/4 by 19 3/4 inches, 1929

Lot 37 is a very strong "head of a woman" by Pablo Picasso that was painted in 1929. An oil on canvas, it measures 28 3/4 by 19 3/4 inches. It was once in the collection of Walter B. Chrysler Jr. of New York and has been very widely exhibited. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It was passed at $2,800,000.

Lot 21, "Le dejeuner sur l'herbe," by Pablo Picasso, colored wax crayons and brush and black ink on panel, 14 by 18 inches 1959

Lot 21 is a superb colored wax crayons and brush and black ink on panel by Pablo Picasso entitled "Le dejeuner sur l'herbe." It measures 14 by 18inches and was painted in 1959. It is inscribed to Norman Granz. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,986,500.

Lot 39, "Baigneuses," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 8 3/4 by 10 1/2 inches, 1932

Lot 39 is a delightful and lovely small oil on canvas by Pablo Picasso entitled "Baigneuses." It measures 8 3/4 by 10 1/2 inches and was painted in1932. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It was passed at $600,000.

Lot 69, "Le chien dalmate," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 63 3/4 by 51 inches, 1959

Lot 69 is a large and nice painting of a dalmatian dog by Picasso. An oil on canvas, it measures 63 3/4 by 51 inches and was painted in 1959. It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $2,322,500.

Picasso cock sculpture

Conor Jordan, deputy chairman of the department at Christie's, admires Lot 13, "Coq," by Pablo Picasso, bronze, 25 1/2 inches high, conceived in 1932 and cast in the1950s, numbered 4/6

Lot 13 is a good bronze sculpture of a cock by Pablo Picasso. It is 25 1/2 inches high and was conceived in 1932 and cast in the 1950s. It is numbered 4/6. It has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It was passed at $9,200,000. It has been very widely published.

Lot 40, "La caisse verte," by Georges Braque, oil and sand on canvas, 34 1/2 by 42 inches, 1952

Lot 40 is a good oil and sand on canvas by Georges Braque (1882-1963). Entitled "La caisse verte," it measures 34 1/2 by 42 inches and was painted in 1952. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It sold for $2,883,500.

Lot 14, "Femme aupres de la fenetre," by Henri Matisse oil on canvasboard, 12 3/4 by 16 inches, 1919

Lot 14 is a very pleasant painting of a woman standing by a window by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). An oil on canvasboard, it measures 12 3/4 by 16 inches and was painted in 1919. It has a modest estimate of $600,000 to $900,000. It sold for $1,022,500.

Lot 4, "La Place Saint-Augustin, temps brumeux," by Gustave Caillebotte, oil on canvas, 21 1/4 by 25 5/8 inches, 1878

Lot 4 is a very pleasant Parisian street scene by Gustave Caillebotte (1848-1894). Entitled "La Place Saint-Augustin, temps brumeux," it is an oil on canvas that measures 21 1/4 by 25 5/8 inches and was painted in 1878. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $4,000,000. It sold for $2,658,500.

Lot 36, "Une Muse," by Constantin Brancusi, plaster, 18 inches, 1912

Lot 36 is a plaster sculpture by Constantin Brancusi (1867-1957) entitled "Une Muse." It is 18 inches high. Brancusi first made a white marble version in 1912. A bronze version of the sculpture executed in 1917 is in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts in Dallas. The lot, which has been widely exhibited, has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It sold for $12,402,500.

Leg sculpture by Giacometti

Lot 53, "La Jambe," by Albert Giacometti, bronze, 85 13/16 inches high, concieved in 1947 and cast in 1958, number 3/6

Lot 53 is a bronze sculpture of a leg by Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966) that is 85 13/16 inches high. It was conceived in 1947 and cast in 1958 and is numbered 3/6 It has an estimate of $10,000,000 to $15,000,000. It sold for $11,282,500. It was once in the collection of Ben Heller.

See The City Review article on the Sotheby's evening auction May 10, 2000 of Impressionist & Modern Art

See The City Review article on the May 11, 2000 auction at Sotheby's of Impressionist & Modern Art, Part 2

See The City Review article on the Sotheby's Impressionist & Modern Art Auction, Part I, Nov. 11, 1999

See The City Review article on Part Two of the Sotheby's auction November 11, 1999 of Impressionist & Modern Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 8, 1999 evening sale of Impressionist & Post Impressionist Art

See The City Review article on the morning auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Art at Christie's

See The City Review article on the afternoon auction Nov. 9, 1999 of Impressionist and Twentieth Century Works on Paper at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 9, 1999 evening auction of Twentieth Century Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's Nov. 10, 1999 day auction of Twentieth Century Art

See The City Review analysis of Part 1 of the Sotheby's auction May 11, 1999 of Impressionist and Modern Art

See The City Review analysis of Part 2 of the Sotheby's May 12, 1999 auction of Impressionist and Modern Art

See The City Review article on the Christie's May 12, 1999 auction of Impressionist Art and 19th Century Art

See The City Review of the Christie's May 13, 1999 auction of 20th Century and Modern Art

Recap of the Spring 1998 Impressionist and Modern Auctions

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