Art/Auctions: Impressionist and Modern Art at Christie's New York May 8, 2013

A Dialogue Through Art
Works from the Jan Krugier Collection

Christie's New York

7 P.M., November 4, 2013 (Lots 1-63)
10 A.M., November 5, 2013 (Lots 101-179)

Sale 3442

Photo of Jan Krugier and one of his African Art pieces

By Carter B. Horsley

Jan Krugier was a very famous art dealer who died in 2008 at the age of 80. Christie's New York is offering 63 works in an evening sale November 4, 2013 and more than a 100 more, mostly works on paper the following day. The evening sale is anticipated to total more than $160 million and the day sale around $15 million.

The quality of works in the evening sale is superb and reflect a great connoisseur's eye. About a tenth of the works being offered are by Pablo Picasso (1881-1973).

In addition to the Picassos are very important works by Kandinsky, Ingres, Giacometti, O'Keeffe, Rauschenberg and Francis.

Maquette for Chicago's "Head" by Picasso

Lot 21, "Tete (Maquette pur la sculpture en plein air du Chicago Civic Center," by Picasso, cut and wielded steel, 41 1/2 inches high, 1964

Lot 21 is a cut-and-wielded-steel, 41 1/2-inch-high maquette for Picasso's monumental 1964 sculpture in front the Civic Center in Chicago. The catalogue notes that the Chicago sculpture was "Picasso's final great sculpture, the crowing work of his career in three dimensions. It is 65 feet tall and dominates Richard J. Daley Center and Picasso made a gift of a second maquette for the sculpture to the Art Institute of Chicago. This maquette has been widely published and exhibited.

Roland Penrose, a biographer of Picasso, got a message from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill that it wanted Picasso to design a sculpture for its new civic center Picasso proposed an enlargement of his 1928 design for the grave of Guillaume Apollinnaire, his close friend, but a committee turned down this design of welded iron he had done with the assistance of Julio Gonzalez. The catalogue notes that the committee finally agreed when Picasso offered them the head of a young woman. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, however, wanted a new design. Picasso then showed them a hollowed-out face that suggested the "long snout of Picasso's Afghan hound Kabul, and the use of rods recalls the facial striation in the Africanized heads in Les Demoiselles d'Avignon of 1907. After a few meetings, Picasso decided he wanted the sculpture to have arms "which might dangle" in a reflecting pool, but subsequently he decided against such a scheme. Picasso turned down a $100,000 check from the architects, the entry said, proclaiming that the sculpture was a "gift."

Lot 21 has a modest estimate of $25,000,000 to $35,000,000.

It failed to sell and was passed at $19 milllion with no bids.

The auction was not successful as 17 lots out of 62 offered lots were passed in the evening session, but many of them were the top lots and many of those that did sell sold below their low estimates. The evening auction total was about $92.5 million and the pre-sale estimate was approximately $157 to 220 million. The day auction total was more than $21 million and was very successful with more than 90 percent sold.

Lot 49, "Femme dans un rocking-chair," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 76 3/4 by 51 1/8 inches, 1956

Lot 49 is an oil on canvas by Picasso entitled "Femme dans un rocking-chair." It measures 76 3/4 by 51 1/8 inches and was painted in 1956. Other versions are in the The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney and were sold at Christie's in London in February,2007.

The catalogue provides the following commentary:

"From 1954 onward, the image of Jacqueline Roque - the last great love of Picasso's life - dominated the artist's work, forming the largest group of portraits in his entire oeuvre....Picasso depicts Jacqueline encircled by the sweeping curves of his beloved Thonet bent-wood rocking chair, which occupied a place of honor in his studio at La Californie. The painting is exceptionally spare and economical in its means, the sitter's form pared down to a series of flat interlocking planes, the face a pure, unarticulated orb. Jacqueline's long, elegant neck and thick sweep of glossy, dark hair remains clearly discernible, however, and the rocking motion implied by the chair imbues the painting with the sense of tranquil, soliticous volupté that so often pervades the images of Jacqueline."

The lot has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It was passed at $5.8 million.

Lot 26, "Nature Morte a la fleur," by Pablo Picasso, oil, wood, cardboard, metal, nails and fabric on conavas, 8 3/4 y 10 3/4 inches, 1938

The second best Picasso in the auction is Lot 26, "Nature Morte à la fleur," a collage of oil, cardboard, wood, metal, nails and fabric on canvas. It measures 8 3/4 by 10 3/4 inches and was created in 1938. It has been widely exhibited and published.

The catalogue entry reproduces three other slightly similar still lifes from the same period, all in private collections and it notes that works by Robert Rauschenburg and Anselm Kiefer also imbed found objects but emphasizes that Picasso "got there first."

It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $3,133,000.

Lot 17, "Claude and Paloma," by Pablo Picasso, oil and ripolin on panel, 45 3/8 by 35 inches, 1950

Lot 17 is an excellent portrait of "Claude and Paloma," Picasso's two youngest children who were born to his companion Francoise Gilot. It is a 1950 oil and ripolin on panel that measures 45 3/8 by 35 inches. It has a modest estimate of $9,000,000 to $12,000,000. It was the top lot of the sale and sold for $28,165,000. It has been widely exhibited and published. His paintings of the two children are wonderful compositions of tremendous vitality and imaginative childishness.

Lot 20, "Figure (Paulo en costume d'Arlequin)," by Pablo Picasso, oil on canvas, 9 1/8 by 6 1/8 inches, 1926

By the late 1920s, Picasso's relationship with Olga Khokhlova, the mother of Paulo, was deteriorating and in 1927 he would start an affair with Marie-Therese Walter. In 1926, Paul Rosenberg mounted an exhibition of 58 Picasso works that indicated his shift from Neo-Classicism to Surrealism.

The catalogue entry offers the following commentary:

"Immediately after it closed, Picasso began a powerful series of bifurcated heads with aggressively relocated features....In the present example, the streaks and splatches of vivid color create the impression of tribal war-paint while the eye is rendered as a vertical slit. This split face imagery highlights Picasso's fascination with African and other primitive masks...."

The lot has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $1,445,000.

Lot 29, "Baigneuse sur la plage," by Pablo Picasso, charcoal and grattage on gessoed canvas, 25 3/4 by 31 7/8 inches, 1931

Lot 29 is a charcoal and grattage on gessoed canvas by Pablo Picasso. Entitled "Baigneuse sur la plage," it measures 25 3/4 by 31 7/8 inches. It was painted in 1931. It has an estimate of $4,500,000 to $6,500,000. It sold for $4,645,000.

Lot 19, "Carnet Dinard (Carnet 1044, page 5)" by Pablo Picasso, pen and india ink on paper, 14 7/8 by 12 inches, 1928

Lot 19 is a pen and ink on paper by Picasso entitled "Carnet Dinard (Carnet 1044, page 5)." It measures 14 7/8 by 12 inches and was created in 1928. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $3,525,000.

Lot 22, "Femme debout" by Pablo Picasso, sheet metal and plaster, 13 1/8 inches, 1961

Lot 22 is a sheet metal and plaster statue by Picasso entitled "Femme Debout." It is 13 1/8 inches high and was created in 1961. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $605,000.

Lot 3, "Figurine," by Pablo Picasso, metal, wire and wooden spool, 12 inches high, 1931

Lot 3 is a metal, wire and wooden spool sculpture by Pablo Picasso that is 12 inches high. It was created in 1931 and has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $655,000.

Lot 13, "Nu appuyé," by Pablo Picasso, oil and gouache on panel, 8 1/4 by 10 5/8 inches, 1908

Lot 13 is an oil and gouache on panel by Pablo Picasso that measures 8 1/4 by 10 5/8 inches. It was created in 1908. It shows the influence of Cézanne and Matisse. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It sold for $2,629,000.

Lot 41, "Herbstlandschaft," by Wassily Kandinsky, oil on canvas, 28 1/8 by 39 1/8 inches, 1911

Lot 41 is a superb and sensational landscape by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1964) entitled "Herbstlandschaft." An oil on canvas, it measures 28 1/8 by 39 1/8 inches and was painted in 1911.

It is so visceral that Abstract Expressionism that flourished more than three decades later pales.

The catalogue entry provides the following commentary:

"The autumn colors in Kandinsky's landscape are effulgent, visionary and ecstatic; the painter has heightened the chroma to such a fiery degree that the natural world appears to have been transfigured into a completely spiritual realm, a profoundly inward dimension in which intense emotion and deepest intuition now clearly hold sway over the creator's imagination...."

It has an estimate of $20,000,000 to $25,000,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $14 million.

Lot 39, "Untitled," by Sam Francis, oil on canvas, 72 1/4 by 95 5/8 inches, 1959

An interesting and very good companion piece to the Kandinsky is Lot 39, an untitled abstraction by Sam Francis (1923-1994). An oil on canvas, it measures 72 1/4 by 95 5/8 inches and was painted in 1959.

The same year that he painting this work, Francis did an enormous mural for the new headquarters in Lower Manhattan of the Chase National Bank. That year, he returned to New York from Paris and the catalogue entry notes that "with its bold chromati shapes and free handling of paint, the work captures the energy and frenetic pace of the artist's new surroundings, while its bravura drips recall the city's Action Painters."

It has an estimate of $2,500,000 to $3,500,000. It sold for $2,165,000.

Lot 36, "Turkey," by Robert Rauschenberg, silkscreen on paper collage with objects and Plexiglas mounted on canvas in three panels, 40 1/2 by 36 1/2 inches, 1966

Lot 36 is a fine "combine" by Robert Rauschenberg (1925-2008) entitled "Turkey" and its reds may have reminded Krugier of his Kandinsky and Francis. A silkscreen on paper collage with objects and Plexiglas mounted on canvas in three panels, it measures 40 1/2 by 36 1/2 inches and was created in 1966.

The catalogue entry remarks that the work is "composed almost entirely in blazing red, collaged imagery and found objects from everyday life" and "envelops the viewer in it impassioned narrative of post-war America." "The blazing patriotic hues at once capture the optimistic and expansive spirit of the early 1960s and the vibrating energy of the nuclear era. Turkey's visual cacophony is typical of the artist, whose compositions are famously untidy, complicated and chock full of unexpected juxtapositions."

The essay includes the following Rauschenberg quotation:

"The use of the familiar is obscure, the use of the exotic is familiar. Neither sacrifices completely its origin but the mind has to travel to follow just as the eye has to change its focus."

It has a very modest estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It failed to sell and passed at $600,000.

Lot 15, "Tete de Diego au col roulé," by Giacometti, painted bronze, 13 inches high, 1951

Lot 15 is a 13-inch-high painted bronze bust of Diego Giacometti by Alberto Giacometti (1901-1966), his brother. The catalogue entry notes that this bust, which was created in 1951, is "uniquely" painted, adding that "The creamy flesh tone in Diego's face, contrasting with the thinner washes of tint in his upper body, everywhere highlight the cuts, crevices and ridges of thesulptor's ruggedly energetic modeling and contribute to an uncannily intimate, vital and riveting presence."

The object's traces of paint reminds us that much of Classical Greek sculpture was painted and not just marble.

The lot has an estimate of $6,000,000 to $9,000,000. It sold for $3,525,000.

A sculpture of a man and a painting by Giacometti

Lot 45, "Femme de Venise I," bronze, 41 1/4 inches high, cast in 1957, left; Lot 23, "Nu débout," oil on canvas, 61 by 27 1/2 inches, 1958, right; both by Alberto Giacometti

Lot 45, "Femme de Venise I," is a 41 1/4-inch high bronze that Giacometti had cast in 1957. It has an estimate of $9,000,000 to $12,000,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $6.8 million.

Lot 23, "Nu débout," is an oil on canvas painted by Giacometti in 1958. It measures 61 by 27 1/2 inches. The catalogue notes that in 1956 Giacometti sculpted nine plaster casts of women, including this one, that "are probably Giacometti's best-known works, and are generally regarded as having significantly contributed to his reputation and fame as the most important sculptor of the post-war era."

It has an estimate of $8,000,000 to $12,000,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $4.8 million.

Lot 53, "Portrait de la Comtesse d'Haussonville," by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, oil on canvas, 44 1/4 by 29 7/8 inches, 1842

One of the most astonishing works in this auction dominated by modern masters is Lot 52, a hauntingly beautiful portrait of the Comtesse d'Haussonville, an 1842 oil on canvas by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1780-1867). Her pose is reversed in the very bright and blue oil portrait that was completed three years later and is at The Frick Collection. The woman was a granddaughter of Madame de Stael and wrote five books including a biography of Lord Byron.

It has a modest estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,500,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $1.1 million.

Lot 51, "Ghost Ranch Cliff," by Georgia O'Keeffe, oil on canvas, 16 by 30 inches, 1952

Another dazzling work is Lot 51, "Ghost Ranch Cliff," by Georgia O'Keeffe (1887-1986), a 1952 oil on canvas that measures 16 by 30 inches. An extremely poetic and lyrical work, it challenges the fragmentation of Still and the completeness of Rothko. It has a very modest estimate of $400,000 to $600,000, probably reflecting its $430,000 sale at Sotheby's New York November 29, 2006. It sold for $425,000.

Lot 27, "Péches," by Henri Matisse, oil on canvas, 18 3/8 by 25 7/8 inches, 1920

Lot 27 is a pleasant still life entitled "Péches" by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). An oil on canvas, it measures 18 3/8 by 25 7/8 inches and was painted in 1920. It has an estimate of $4,000,000 to $6,000,000. It failed to sell and was passed at $2,800,000.

Lot 9, "Crisis X," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, oil, acrylic, and oilstick on canvas with rope on exposed stretcher, 72 2/3 by 45 by 7 inches, 1982

Lot 9 is an oil, acrylic, and oil stick on canvas with rope on exposed stretcher by Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) that is entitled "Crisis X." It measures 72 2/3 by 45 by 7 inches and was created in 1982. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000. It sold for $2,853,000.

Lot 62, "Untitled (Peso Neto)," by Jean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic and oilstick on canvas mounted on canvas, 55 3/4 by 38 1/4 inches, 1982

Another Basquiat is Lot 62, "Untitled (Peso Neto)," an acrylic and oilstick on canvasmounted on canvas that measures 55 3/4 by 38 1/4 inches. It was created in 1982. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $1,925,000.

Lot 44, "Number 18,"byJean-Michel Basquiat, acrylic, oilstick and xerox collage on canvas, 46 by 49 inches, 1981

Lot 44, "Number 18," is an acrylic, oilstick and xerox collage on canvas by Jean-Michel Basquiat. It measures 46 by 49 inches and was created in 1981. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $965,000.

Lot 40, "Kleines Weihmachtsstilleben," by Paul Klee, oil on board, 17 1/8 by 15 1/8 inches oval, 1914

Lot 40 is a nice oval abstraction by Paul Klee (1879-1949) entitled "Kleines Weihmachtsstilleben." It measures 17 1/8 by 15 1/8 inches and was created in 1914. It has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It was passed at $1,500,000.

Lot 173, "Kunstliche Frucht," by Paul Klee, watercolor, 9 by 13 inches, 1929

Lot 173 is a very attractive watercolor by Paul Klee entitled "Kunstsliche Frucht." It measures about 9 by 13 inches and was created in 1929. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $149,000.

Lot 107, "Expanson Centrfuge de la Lumere," by Gino Severini, goauche, watercolor and pencil on paper, 24 1/4 by 19 1/2 inches, 1913-4

Lot 107 is a beautiful gouache, watercolor and pencil on paper entitled "Expanson Centrfuge de la Lumere" by Gino Severini (1883-1966). It measures 24 1/4 by 19 1/2 inches and was painted in 1913-4. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $665,000.

Lot 30, "La Mer," by Max Ernst, oil on canvas, 18 1/8 by 15 inches, 1925, above; Lot 146, "Titre inconnu," by Yves Tanguy, oil on panel, 11 by 23 inches, 1927, below

Lot 30 is an excellent oil on canvas by Max Ernst (1891-1976) entitled "La Mer." It measures 18 1/8 by 15 inches and was painted in 1925. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $461,000.

Lot 146, "Titre inconnu" is a good oil on panel by Yves Tanguy (1900-1955) that measures about 11 by 23 inches and was created in 1927. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $300,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 28, "Femme assise I," by Julio Gonzalez, bronze, 45 1/2 inches high, conceived circa 1935 and cast in 1985

Lot 28, "Femme assise I," is a bronze sculpure by Julio Gonzalez (1876-1962) that is 45 1/2 inches high and was cast in 1985. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It passed at $600,000.

Lot 56, "Stillben mit Paletten," byMax Beckmann, oil on canvas, 21 3/4 by 37 1/2 inches, 1944

Lot 56, "Stillben mit Paletten," is a superb oil on canvas by Max Beckmann (1884-1950). It measures 21 3/4 by 37 1/2 inches and was painted in 1944. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $905,000.

Lot 137, "Gartencafe," by August Macke, watercolor and colored wax crayons on paper, 10 3/4 by 12 7/8 inches, 1913

Lot 137 is a fine watercolor and colored wax crayons on paper by August Macke (1887-1914) entitled "Gartencafe." It measures 10 3/4 by 12 7/8 inches and was painted in 1913. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $161,000.

Lot 138, "Abstraktes Aquarell II," by Franz Marc, numbered "39," tempera, watercolor and brush and black ink onpaper, 8 3/4 by 6 5/8 inches, 1913-4

Lot 138 is a lovely tempera, watercolor and brush and black ink on paper by Franz Marc (1880-1916). It is entitled "Abstraktes Aquarell II" and measures 8 3/4 by 6 5/8 inches and was executed in 1913-4. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $437,000.

Lot 182, "Untitled," by Jean Tinguely, iron, wheels, hinges and electric motor, 23 inches high, circa 1961

Lot 182 is an untitled sculpture of iron, wheels, hinges and electric motor by Jean Tinguely (1925-1991). It is 23 inches high and was created in 1961. It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $75,000.

Lot 47, "Abstraktes Bild (763-7)," by Gerhard Richter, oil on canvas, 20 3/8 by 24 3/8 inches, 1992

Lot 47 is an excellent small abstration by Gerhard Richter (b. 1932). An oil on canvas, it measures 20 3/8 by 24 3/8 inches and was painted in 1992. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It was passed at $550,000.

The auction got off to a tremendous start with Lot 1, "Cigare," a 4 3/8-inch long, painted-wood sculpture by Pablo Picasso sold for $1,073,000, way over its $300,000 high estimate.

Some observers tried to argue that the auction's poor showing was because some of the works were "overpriced" and others suggested that some had been shown at art fairs over the past decade or so. Such rationales, however, are quite exaggerated and the lack of bidding was a shocking reminder that many buyers in this market are not sophisticated connoisseurs. Many of the works were marvelous and excellent, particularly Picasso's maquette and the Kandinsky mountain.

The day portion of the Krugier sell did extremely well, which only adds to the interpretative confusion.

See The City Review article on the Spring 2013 Impressionist & Modern Art evening auction at Sotheby's New York

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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