Art/Auctions/Impressionists & Modern Art Works on Paper at Christie's New York, May 16, 2018

Impressionist & Modern Art
Works on Paper
Christie's New York

10 AM, May 16, 2017

Sale 15972

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy 104

Lot 104, "Formes," by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, oil on paper, 17 7/8 by 14 inches, 1940

By Carter B. Horsley

The morning auction May 16, 2018 of Impressionist & Modern Art Works on Paper at Christie's New York is highlighted by very good abstractions by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, Le Corbusier, František Kupka, Fernand Léger. and Robert Delaunay, and good works by Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Emil Nolde, Wassily Kandinsky, and Rene Magritte.

The most spectacular work is Lot 104, "Formes," a dizzying abstraction by Laszlo Moholy-Nagy (1895-1946) that is an oil on paper that measures 17 7/8 by 14 inches and was painted in 1940. It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $50,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The auction total was $16.692,375 with 90 percent of the 110 offered lots selling.

Lot 105, "Icône et nature morte," by Le Corbusier, gouache, pastel and charcoal on paper, 21 1/8 by 16 1/8 inches, 1946

A fine companion of Lot 104 is Lot 105, "Icône et nature morte," by Le Corbusier (1887-1965), a bold and very colorful goauche, pastel and charcoal on paper. It measures 21 1/8 by 16 1/8 inches and was painted in 1946. It is a bewildering but fascinating composition. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $187,500.

Lot 108, "Etude pur Plans par corubes," by Frantisek Kupka, gouache, watercolor and brush and India ink on paper, 11 7/8 inches square

Lot 108 is a fine goache, watercolor and brush and India ink on paper abstraction by Frantisek Kupka (1871-1957) that is a study for a painting entitled "Plans par courbes that was auctioned at Christie's New York in May, 1995. This work measures 11 7/8 inches square and is property of Arnold Scaasi and Parker Ladd. It is beautifully framed. It has a modest estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $68,750.

Lot 107, "La verseruse portugaise," by Robert Delaunay, pastel over pencil on paper laid down along the edges of canvas, 29 3/4 by 41 1/2 inches, 1916

Lot 107 is a large pastel over pencil on paper laid down along the edges of canvas by Robert Delaunay (1885-1941) that is another work from the collection of Arnold Scaasi and Parker Ladd. It is entitled "La verseuse portugaise" and is a study for a 1916 painting at the Musée national d'Art Moderne at the Centre Pompidou in Paris. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $1,212,500.

Lot 114, "Eléments mécaniques," by Fernand Léger, watercolor, brush and pen and black ink and pencil on paper, 13 1/8 by 9 1/4 inches, 1918

Lot 114 is an excellent watercolor, brush and pen and black ink an pencil on paper by Fernand Léger (1881-1955). It is entitled "Eléments mécanique" and measures 13 1/8 by 9 1/4 inches and was drawn in 1918. It has an estimate of $300,000 to $500,000. It sold for $275,000.

Lot 134, "Blumen," by Emil Nolde, watercolor, brush and pen and black ink and pencil on Japan paper, 13 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches, circa 1930

Lot 34, "Blumen," by Emil Nolde (1867-1956) is a lush watercolor, brush and pen and black ink and pencil on Japan paper. It measures 13 1/2 by 18 1/2 inches and was painted circa 1930. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $93,750.

Lot 140, "Dunner druck," by Wassily Kandinsky, gouache, watercolor and brush and pen and India ink on paper laid down on car, 13 1/2 by 9 5/8 inches, 1924

Lot 140 is a dense and impressive abstraction by Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944) entitled "Dunner druck." It is a gouache, watercolor and brush and pen and India ink on paper laid down on card. It measures 13 1/2 by 9 5/8 inches. It was drawn in 1924. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $336,500.

Lot 143, "Cariatide," by Amedio Modigliani, charcoal on paper, 16 7/8 by 10 3/8 inches, 1911

Lot 143 is a "cariatide" charcoal on paper by Amedeo Modigliani that is not the loveliest of this important series but is distinguished by the artist's treatment of the model's left breast with a circle of dots. Although her arms are a bit "heavy," the outlining of the figure in black makes for a strong drawing. It measures 16 7/8 by 10 3/8 inches. It was drawn in 1911. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000. It sold for $1,092,500.

Lot 175, "L'Argent," by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, peinture a la colle on board, 16 by 12 1/8 inches, 1895

Lot 175 is a great drawing by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) entitled "L'Argent." It is a peinture a la colle on board that measures 16 by 12 1/8 inches and was painted in 1895.

It has an estimate of $180,000 to $250,000. It sold for $200,000.

Lot 171, "Study for Petites filles spartiates provoquant les garcons," by Edgar Degas, pencil and white heightening on paper, 7 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches, circa 1880

Lot 171 is a very fine pencil and white heightening on paper drawing study for "Petites filles spartiates provoquent les garcons," a painting by Edgar Degas (1834-1917) now at the Art Institute of Chicago. The drawing measures 7 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches and was drawn circa 1880. It very closely relates to the painting except that the house in the center has a pitched roof and the composition is slightly broader than the painting. It is property of the Lasalle University in Philadelphia. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000. It sold for $100,000.

Lot 158, "Ohne Titel (Sichtbar)," by Kurt Schwitters, brush and inkwash and paper collage of paper, 6 1/2 by 5 1/4 inches, 1928

Lot 158 is a small collage of Kurt Schwitters (1887-1948) entitled "Ohne Titel (Sichtbar). It measures 6 1/2 by 5 1/4 inches and was created in 1928. It is from the estate of Dr. George S. Heyer Jr. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $200,000.

Lot 172, "Les Nuages," by Claude Monet, pastel on blue paper, 9 1/2 by 15 1/4 inches

Lot 172 is an impressive pastel on blue paper of clouds by Clude Monet (1840-1926). It measures 9 1/2 by 15 1/4 inches. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $450,000. It sold for $348,500.

Lot 150, "L'Acteur," by Edouard Vuillard, pastel on grey paper, 12 by 8 5/8 inches, circa 1891

:Lot 150 is a very striking pastel on grey paper of an actor by Edouard Vuillard (1868-1940). It measures 12 by 8 5/8 inches and was drawn circa 1891. It has an estimate $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for $87,500.

Lot 144, "L'amour de la nature," by Rene Magritte, gouache, watercolor, sheet music collage, charcoal and pencil on paper, 17 3/4 by 14 1/4 inches, 1961

Lot 144, "L'amour de la nature," is a good gouache, watercolor, sheet music collage, charcoal and pencil on paper by René Magritte (1898-1967), It measures 17 3/4 by 14 1/4 inches and was created in 1961. It was once in the collection of Dominique and John de Menil of Houston. It has an estimate of $1,000,000 to $1,500,000. It sold for $2,772,500.

Lot 164, "Paysage avec trois paysans," by Camille Pissarro, gouache on paper laid down on board, 12 1/8 by 9 3/8 inches, 1891

Lot 164 is a very pleasant small gouache on paper laid down on board by Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) of a landscape with three peasants. It measures 12 1/8 by 9 3/8 inches and was painted in 1891. It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $262,500.

See The City Review article on the Spring 2017 evening auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie's New York

See The City Review article on the Fall 2016 evening auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2016 day auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Sotheby's New York
See The City Review article on the Fall 2016 auction of Impressionist & Modern Art at Christie's New York
See The City Review article on the Spring 2016 auction at Sotheby's New York of Impressionist & Modern Art

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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