Art/Auctions: Post-War and Contemporary Art day auction at Christie's New York, May 18, 2018

Post-War and Contemporary Art Morning Session

Christie's New York

10 AM, May 18, 2018

Sale 15969

Diebenkorn 620

Lot 620, "Untitled," by Richard Diebenkorn, gouache, wax crayon and graphite on paper, 38 by 22 3/4 inches, 1987

By Carter B. Horsley

The Post-War and Contemporary Art Morning Session Auction at Christie's New York May 18, 2018 is highlighted by several good works by Richard Diebenkorn from the collection of Donald and Barbara Zucker, and very nice paintings by Theodore Stamos, Wayne Thiebaud, Adolph Gottlieb, Robert Motherwell, Joan Mitchell and Alexander Calder.

Diebenkorn is best known for his fluid abstract drawings often referred to as his "Ocean Park" series. They tend to be floating and shimmering abstractions with clear geometries.

Lot 620 is one of his untitled gouache, wax crayon and graphite on paper works. It measures 38 by 22 3/4 inches and was painted in 1987. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $696,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The sale total was $60,746,250.

Lot 624, "Untitled," by Diebenkorn, gouache and wax crayon on paper, 37 3/8 by 25 inches, 1992

Another good, untitled Diebenkorn is lot 624, which is a gouache and wax crayon on paper from circa 1992 that measures 37 3/8 by 25 inches. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $588,500.

Lot 625, "Untitled," by Diebenkorn, acyrlic, gouache and charcoal on paper, 27 by 25 inches, 1981

Lot 625 is a third untitled Diebenkorn that is unlike most of the "Ocean Park" compositions that have unresolved large center sections.

The catalogue entry provides the following commentary from the artist:

"Clubs and spades have been in my work ever since I have been painting. They came on peripherally. I have tossed them in occassionally, but I have never confronted them directly. I used them this time because I wanted some sort of image that would hold its presence. An image that I could manipulate, and...I decided to develop those shapes. I knew they were going to be the main focus. You see, I knew those shapes had emotionalk charge for me, but I didn't expect that charge to last as long as it did."

The lot has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $372,500.

Stamos 643

Lot 643, "Untitled (High Sun)," by Theodoros Stamos, oil on canvas, 70 by 39 5/8 inches, 1962

Lot 643 is a fine and very strong abstraction by Theodoros Stamos (1922-1997) that is entitled "Untitled (High Sun)." An oil on canvas, it measures 70 by 39 5/8 inches and was painted in 1962. It has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $250,000.

Lot 612, "Untitled Number 2," by Theodoros Stamos, oil on canvas, 65 by 61 inches, 1960

Lot 612 is a great and very vibrant abstraction by Theodoros Stamos. It is entitled "Untitled Number 2" and is an oil on canvas that measures 65 by 61 inches. It was painted in 1960. It was once in the collection of Henry Geldzalder of New York and was acquired at his auction at Christie's May 8, 1996 by Mandell and Madeleine Berman. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $348,500.

Lot 610, "Orange Calligraphy," by Adolph Gottlieb, oil and acrylic on canvas, 46 by 60 inches, 1969

Another good work from the Berman collection is Lot 610, "Orange Calligraphy," by Adolph Gottlieb (1903-1974). An oil an acrylic on canvas, it measures 46 by 60 inches and was painted in 1969. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $1,272,500.

Mitchell green 611

Lot 611, "Bear Right," by Joan Mitchell, diptych, oil on canvas, 36 1/4 by 57 3/4 inches overall, 1972

Another work from the collection of the Bermans is Lot 611, "Bear Right," a very strong abstraction by Joan Mitchell (1925-1992). A diptych, it measures 37 1/4 by 57 3/4 inches overall and was created in 1972. Its rich palette is similar to a version of "Montagne Sainte-Victoire" by Paul Cézanne at the Kunsthaus in Zurich that it reproduced in the catalogue entry for this handsome work. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $1,512,500.

Mitchell 646

Lot 646, "Iva," by Mitchell, triptych, oil on canvas, 110 5/8 by 236 1/4 inches, 1973

Another Mitchell is Lot 646, "Iva," a triptych oil on canvas that measures 110 5/8 by 236 1/4 inches overall and was painted in 1973. It is not as handsome as the other Mitchell. It is property from the City of Jacksonviulle sold to benefit MOCA Jacksonville and The Art in Public Places Trust Fund. It was included in the 1974 exhibition on the artist at the Whitney Museum of American Art. It has an estimate of $3,000,000 to $5,000,000. It sold for $3,252,500.

Lot 645, "Open No. 81: In Blue with Charcoal Line," by Robert Motherwell, acrylic and charcoal on canvas, 72 1/2 by 42 inches, 1972

Lot 645 is a large and striking abstraction by Robert Motherwell (1915-1991) that is entitled "Open No. 81: In Blue with Charcoal Line." It is from the artist's "Open" Series and is an acrylic and charcoal on canvas that measures 72 1/2 by 42 inches. It was painted in 1972. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $2,172,500.

Lot 644,"Mural Study," by Robert Motherwell, oil and graphite on paper, 13 3/8 by 40 inches, 1978

Another excellent Motherwell is Lot 644, "Mural Study," an oil and graphite on paper that measures 13 3/8 by 40 inches. It was painted in 1978. It has a modest estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $250,000.

Lot 676, "Untitled," by Alexander Calder, gouache and ink on paper, 29 by 42 1/2 inches, 1953

Lot 676 is a large, untitled, goauche and ink on paper by Alexander Calder (1898-1976) that is rather atypical of his oeuvre and is almost an amalgram of Miró and Kandinsky. It measures 29 by 42 1/2 inches and was painted in 1953. It has a very modest estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $250,000.

Lot 601, "15.2.88," by Gerhard Richter, oil on paper, 11 3/4 by 16 1/2 inches, 1988

Lot 601 is a good oil on paper by Gerhard Richter (b. 1932)(see The City Review article) that is entitled "15.2.88." It measures 11 3/4 by 16 1/2 inches and was painted in 1988, It has an estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $324,500.

Frankenthaler 631

Lot 631, "After Hours," by Helen Frankenthaler, acrylic on canvas, 60 1/2 by 169 1/4 inches, 1975

Lot 631, "After Hours," by Helen Frankenthaler (1928-2011) is an acrylic on canvas that measures 60 1/2 by 169 1/4 inches. It was painted in 1975. It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $1,272,500.

Lot 629, "Three Candied Apples," by Wayne Thiebaud, oil on canvas, 12 by 16 inches, 1999

Lot 629, "Three Candied Apples," is a quintessential small oil on canvas by Wayne Thiebaud (b. 1920). It measures 12 by 16 inches and was painted in 1999. It has an estimate of $1,200,000 to $1,800,000. It sold for $3,852,000.

Chamberlain 684

Lot 684, "The Big One," by John Chamberlain, painted and chrome plated steel, 83 inches high, 1992

Lot 684 is an excellent painted and chrome plated steel sculpture by John Chamberlain (1927-2011). It is entitled "The Big One." It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $732,500.

Lot 608, "Inscriptions at the City of Brass," by Romare Bearden, acrylic, fabric, painted foil, paper and printed paper collage on masonite, 40 5/8 by 36 inches, 1972

Lot 608 is an excellent work by Romare Bearden (1911-1988) that is entitlted "Inscriptions at the City of Brass." It is an acrylic, fabric, painted foil, paper and printed paper collage on masonite that measures 40 5/8 by 36 inches. It was created in 1972. It is property from the estate of Susan Sulzberger Rolfe. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $200,000. It sold for $300,000.

See The City Review article on the Fall 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 Contemporary Art evening auction at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2016 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2016 Contemporary Art evening auction at Christie'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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