1960
See also : French sculpture Post war French art Klein Women artists Art by women ca 1960 Rothko Rothko 1957-70 Bacon < 1963 Old Flanders and Belgium Magritte Zao Wou-Ki Jewels Pink diamond
1960 Rothko from Decoration to Meditation
2019 SOLD for $ 50M including premium
In 1958 Mark Rothko accepted the contract with the Seagram company for a series of murals to decorate the new Four Seasons restaurant. The dark colors chosen by the artist are paradoxically expressing some disgust of the luxury atmosphere for which he performs this work.
In the following year, while the paintings were nearly completed, Rothko abruptly breaks the contract and returns to Seagram the money that had been paid in advance. He did not give a clear explanation of this decision. The artist was indeed known as temperamental, but we may especially question why he had accepted this contract that went against his social ideas.
The sequence that led to this anger, however, has a plausible hypothesis. Between acceptance and rejection of the contract, Rothko made a tour of Europe. While admiring Michelangelo in Florence, he understands the major role of the place where an artwork is exhibited. He has a too great opinion of his own art to become a mere restaurant decorator.
On May 16 in New York, Sotheby's sells a 175 x 127 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 12 estimated $ 35M.
This composition is a hybrid between the dialogue of dark colors, here a burgundy rectangle and a maroon rectangle, and a creamy white rectangle at the bottom of the image. Such an extreme opposition is rare in Rothko's art. It can be compared to a Dark over Light painted in 1954, sold for $ 30.7M including premium by Christie's on May 17, 2018, for which the rational explanation was the simulation of a window of light to snap the viewer up to this work.
In 1962 John and Dominique de Menil discover the expressive power of the dark hues of Rothko's Seagram style. From 1965 they sponsor a place of meditation that is much better suited to the artist than a luxury restaurant and which will become the Rothko Chapel.
Please watch the two videos shared by Sotheby's, in the categories First Look and Expert Voices.
In the following year, while the paintings were nearly completed, Rothko abruptly breaks the contract and returns to Seagram the money that had been paid in advance. He did not give a clear explanation of this decision. The artist was indeed known as temperamental, but we may especially question why he had accepted this contract that went against his social ideas.
The sequence that led to this anger, however, has a plausible hypothesis. Between acceptance and rejection of the contract, Rothko made a tour of Europe. While admiring Michelangelo in Florence, he understands the major role of the place where an artwork is exhibited. He has a too great opinion of his own art to become a mere restaurant decorator.
On May 16 in New York, Sotheby's sells a 175 x 127 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 12 estimated $ 35M.
This composition is a hybrid between the dialogue of dark colors, here a burgundy rectangle and a maroon rectangle, and a creamy white rectangle at the bottom of the image. Such an extreme opposition is rare in Rothko's art. It can be compared to a Dark over Light painted in 1954, sold for $ 30.7M including premium by Christie's on May 17, 2018, for which the rational explanation was the simulation of a window of light to snap the viewer up to this work.
In 1962 John and Dominique de Menil discover the expressive power of the dark hues of Rothko's Seagram style. From 1965 they sponsor a place of meditation that is much better suited to the artist than a luxury restaurant and which will become the Rothko Chapel.
Please watch the two videos shared by Sotheby's, in the categories First Look and Expert Voices.
1960 The Papal Obsession of Francis Bacon
2014 SOLD for $ 45M including premium
The arrival of the papal figures in the art of Francis Bacon goes back to his early period of which almost nothing remains since he destroyed his works. Starting just after the Second World War, this theme is political : a pope is also a man, and the luxury inherent in his position cannot hide a psychological distress.
The model is famous : the portrait of Innocent X by Velazquez. As a precaution, Bacon would not see the original artwork for not altering his creative impetus. For over fifteen years, he executed about fifty paintings on this theme. The earliest were screaming their incompetence at offering a better world.
Around 1960, Bacon's popes become silent, as tragic as the screaming characters. The colors are brushed in powerful gestures that make the face unreadable and unidentifiable. He will proceed in the same way for some portraits of his friends in Soho. The throne becomes neutral but the atmosphere in red and crimson maintains the original message of political absurdity.
A Seated figure, oil on canvas 153 x 119 cm painted in 1960, is estimated $ 40 million for sale by Christie's in New York on November 12, lot 45.
On May 15, 2007, Sotheby's sold for $ 53M including premium a Study from Innocent X painted in 1962, 198 x 142 cm. It was at that time the highest price recorded at auction for any artwork by Bacon. The attitude of the character curled on his throne is altogether burlesque and tragic.
The model is famous : the portrait of Innocent X by Velazquez. As a precaution, Bacon would not see the original artwork for not altering his creative impetus. For over fifteen years, he executed about fifty paintings on this theme. The earliest were screaming their incompetence at offering a better world.
Around 1960, Bacon's popes become silent, as tragic as the screaming characters. The colors are brushed in powerful gestures that make the face unreadable and unidentifiable. He will proceed in the same way for some portraits of his friends in Soho. The throne becomes neutral but the atmosphere in red and crimson maintains the original message of political absurdity.
A Seated figure, oil on canvas 153 x 119 cm painted in 1960, is estimated $ 40 million for sale by Christie's in New York on November 12, lot 45.
On May 15, 2007, Sotheby's sold for $ 53M including premium a Study from Innocent X painted in 1962, 198 x 142 cm. It was at that time the highest price recorded at auction for any artwork by Bacon. The attitude of the character curled on his throne is altogether burlesque and tragic.
(previous purchase 1960) The Mystery of the Little Prince
2013 SOLD 39.3 M$ including premium
On April 16 in New York, Christie's sells a cushion-cut pink diamond weighing 34.65 carats. It is identified as historic, which mostly means that some ancient information is available. Here is the link to the catalog.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
I found on the web a page made before the recent resurgence of the Princie Diamond, in which it is fifth in a list of the most famous pink diamonds, but with a wrong color shade.
Its true color, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4 million including premium (U.S. $ 1.85 million per carat) by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010 is also a fancy intense pink.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda.
Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
On 6 October 2010, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a VS2 fancy vivid pink weighing 6.43 carats, which approximately corresponds to U.S. $ 1.15 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
The market is sometimes of a surprising regularity. I gave here above an example at $ 1.15 million per carat for a diamond of same color and same clarity.
The Princie was sold $ 1.135 million per carat including premium. Its exceptional size has generated an extraordinary price: $ 39.3 million including premium.
This diamond has not been seen publicly since 1960. It was then bought £ 46K at auction by Van Cleef & Arpels, who named it the Princie Diamond by friendship with the young prince of Baroda.
I found on the web a page made before the recent resurgence of the Princie Diamond, in which it is fifth in a list of the most famous pink diamonds, but with a wrong color shade.
Its true color, fancy intense pink, is a pleasant surprise, because this is one of the best and rarest colors. The 24.78 carats Graff Pink, sold CHF 45.4 million including premium (U.S. $ 1.85 million per carat) by Sotheby's on November 16, 2010 is also a fancy intense pink.
The provenance of the Princie was not revealed in 1960. The press release from Christie's tells that the seller was the Nizam of Hyderabad himself, which supports the hypothesis that this diamond had been extracted from Golconda.
Unfortunately, its VS2 clarity is not excellent. The Graff Pink, VVS2, is better by two grades.
On 6 October 2010, Sotheby's sold HK $ 60M including premium a VS2 fancy vivid pink weighing 6.43 carats, which approximately corresponds to U.S. $ 1.15 million per carat.
POST SALE COMMENT
The market is sometimes of a surprising regularity. I gave here above an example at $ 1.15 million per carat for a diamond of same color and same clarity.
The Princie was sold $ 1.135 million per carat including premium. Its exceptional size has generated an extraordinary price: $ 39.3 million including premium.
1960 The Mystery of the Pink Room
2012 SOLD 23.5 M£ including premium
The art of Klein was mystical. His monochromes were the elements of a trinity. The colors he selected were the IKB intense blue, the madder pink and gold, more expressive than the three primary colors of Chevreul.
He spreads his color on canvas. Suddenly, like Kandinsky discovering by chance (according to legend) that he had just invented abstract art, Klein is rising to the rank of a fundamental artistic figure a sponge soaked with paint which he just used.
Thus begins around 1959 the series of RE (Reliefs Eponges or Sponge Reliefs) by Yves Klein: transforming his panels into sculpture, the artist dispositions sponges and pebbles as a set that remains beautifully monochrome.
He then creates a new universe full of these strange figures pushing him in the following of the mineral world of Tanguy. But Tanguy died in 1955, and the space conquest had meanwhile started with its imaginary craters and lifeless rocks.
Fontana did not miss it. He briefly owned a blue sponge relief of 1959, 104 x 105 x 10 cm, which is now estimated £ 6M, for sale by Christie's in London on June 27. Here is the link to the catalog.
In 1961 in Krefeld, an exhibition demonstrates the clash of colors of Klein's trinity by ably attributing a different room to each color. Two artworks made in 1960 are particularly noticed.
The blue room is dominated by Archisponge, 200 x 165 cm, which was sold $ 21.4 million including premium at Sotheby's on November 11, 2008. The catalog did not indicate the thickness.
In the same next sale as above, on June 27 in London, Christie's sells the masterpiece of the pink room, 199 x 153 x 16 cm. Here is the link to the catalog. The estimate is not published.
Its mysterious title, Le Rose du Bleu, does not doubt the purity of the madder pigment but indicates that the artist attempts a unified vision of his Pink with the immaterial symbol of his basic Blue.
Both artworks for the next sale are shown in the film shared by Christie's Multimedia.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good results for both Sponge Reliefs: £ 23.5 million including premium for the pink, and £ 7.7 million including premium for the blue.
He spreads his color on canvas. Suddenly, like Kandinsky discovering by chance (according to legend) that he had just invented abstract art, Klein is rising to the rank of a fundamental artistic figure a sponge soaked with paint which he just used.
Thus begins around 1959 the series of RE (Reliefs Eponges or Sponge Reliefs) by Yves Klein: transforming his panels into sculpture, the artist dispositions sponges and pebbles as a set that remains beautifully monochrome.
He then creates a new universe full of these strange figures pushing him in the following of the mineral world of Tanguy. But Tanguy died in 1955, and the space conquest had meanwhile started with its imaginary craters and lifeless rocks.
Fontana did not miss it. He briefly owned a blue sponge relief of 1959, 104 x 105 x 10 cm, which is now estimated £ 6M, for sale by Christie's in London on June 27. Here is the link to the catalog.
In 1961 in Krefeld, an exhibition demonstrates the clash of colors of Klein's trinity by ably attributing a different room to each color. Two artworks made in 1960 are particularly noticed.
The blue room is dominated by Archisponge, 200 x 165 cm, which was sold $ 21.4 million including premium at Sotheby's on November 11, 2008. The catalog did not indicate the thickness.
In the same next sale as above, on June 27 in London, Christie's sells the masterpiece of the pink room, 199 x 153 x 16 cm. Here is the link to the catalog. The estimate is not published.
Its mysterious title, Le Rose du Bleu, does not doubt the purity of the madder pigment but indicates that the artist attempts a unified vision of his Pink with the immaterial symbol of his basic Blue.
Both artworks for the next sale are shown in the film shared by Christie's Multimedia.
POST SALE COMMENT
Very good results for both Sponge Reliefs: £ 23.5 million including premium for the pink, and £ 7.7 million including premium for the blue.
1960-1966 The Flag of Modern Art
2010 SOLD 28.6 M$ including premium
PRE SALE DISCUSSION
Listen to what Christie's said in a press release issued on March 2:
"Jasper Johns' Flag paintings are credited as the first icons of Pop Art, ending the supremacy of the Abstract Expressionism of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning, and opening the gates to the everyday consumer images of Warhol and Lichtenstein."
In this year 2010 when the price of iconic lots of all categories has no limitations, this statement may seem prophetic.
Leo Castelli, who was the dealer for Johns, had kept a Flag of 1958. His son just sold it to Steven Cohen in a private sale for a price that could be about $ 110 million. This information was published and illustrated yesterday in The New York Times.
Christie's release announced a Flag painted between 1960 and 1966, for sale on May 11 in New York. Measuring 43 x 66 cm, it is twice smaller than the Castelli-Cohen's. Do not talk price today for this lot: let the market find its breath ... or not!
The technique of encaustic and newspaper on canvas creates a unique texture to these works, such as to fascinate the observer as much as a Rothko can do.
POST SALE COMMENT
The sale of the collection of Michael Crichton had been well publicized. This has helped the Flag, which was estimated $ 10 million, to reach $ 28.6 million including premium.
It was neither one of the first nor of the largest in the series, and its exact date has not been identified. In these circumstances, I conclude that the result is excellent.
Listen to what Christie's said in a press release issued on March 2:
"Jasper Johns' Flag paintings are credited as the first icons of Pop Art, ending the supremacy of the Abstract Expressionism of Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Willem de Kooning, and opening the gates to the everyday consumer images of Warhol and Lichtenstein."
In this year 2010 when the price of iconic lots of all categories has no limitations, this statement may seem prophetic.
Leo Castelli, who was the dealer for Johns, had kept a Flag of 1958. His son just sold it to Steven Cohen in a private sale for a price that could be about $ 110 million. This information was published and illustrated yesterday in The New York Times.
Christie's release announced a Flag painted between 1960 and 1966, for sale on May 11 in New York. Measuring 43 x 66 cm, it is twice smaller than the Castelli-Cohen's. Do not talk price today for this lot: let the market find its breath ... or not!
The technique of encaustic and newspaper on canvas creates a unique texture to these works, such as to fascinate the observer as much as a Rothko can do.
POST SALE COMMENT
The sale of the collection of Michael Crichton had been well publicized. This has helped the Flag, which was estimated $ 10 million, to reach $ 28.6 million including premium.
It was neither one of the first nor of the largest in the series, and its exact date has not been identified. In these circumstances, I conclude that the result is excellent.
1960 Projection in Black and White
2017 SOLD for $ 20M including premium
Modern life creates new shapes that excite the formal research of the photographers. Franz Kline is close to them but he is a draftsman and a painter. He takes many sketches of the industrial structures of New York City and of his native Pennsylvania : beams of bridges, pylons, derricks.
At first this leads to nothing. Elaine de Kooning narrated the click. In 1948 Willem projects on a wall the image of a chair made by Franz. With the poor episcope of that time the geometry is jostled and the lines are bogged down. Franz is thrilled by this abstract projection of his ordinary figurative drawing.
Franz is neither a theoretician nor a surrealist. The lines of his projection compose a two-dimensional space to which an apparent impulse brings a three-dimensional illusion. Franz's painstaking work should not have been equated with the spontaneity of the Action painting of which he is often considered a leader. The rhythm of jazz is a fantasy that sometimes fits into his own style. On the other hand the jagged edges of his stripes bring him closer to Still and Rothko.
His paintings become monumental. An Untitled 200 x 280 cm painted in 1957 was sold for $ 40.4M including premium by Christie's on November 14, 2012.
On November 15 in New York, Christie's sells as lot 21 B Light Mechanic, oil on canvas 234 x 172 cm painted in 1960. The worn beams in deep black of his abstract mechanics are underlined by a subtle light gray projection that could have to be generated by the old episcope on another screen further away.
At first this leads to nothing. Elaine de Kooning narrated the click. In 1948 Willem projects on a wall the image of a chair made by Franz. With the poor episcope of that time the geometry is jostled and the lines are bogged down. Franz is thrilled by this abstract projection of his ordinary figurative drawing.
Franz is neither a theoretician nor a surrealist. The lines of his projection compose a two-dimensional space to which an apparent impulse brings a three-dimensional illusion. Franz's painstaking work should not have been equated with the spontaneity of the Action painting of which he is often considered a leader. The rhythm of jazz is a fantasy that sometimes fits into his own style. On the other hand the jagged edges of his stripes bring him closer to Still and Rothko.
His paintings become monumental. An Untitled 200 x 280 cm painted in 1957 was sold for $ 40.4M including premium by Christie's on November 14, 2012.
On November 15 in New York, Christie's sells as lot 21 B Light Mechanic, oil on canvas 234 x 172 cm painted in 1960. The worn beams in deep black of his abstract mechanics are underlined by a subtle light gray projection that could have to be generated by the old episcope on another screen further away.
1960 The Mystery of the Opposites
2017 SOLD for £ 14.4M including premium
In his deeply original way René Magritte is the less hermetic of the surrealists. His art is nothing more than lines and colors. His exegetes are far more complicated than himself. His themes disconcert by the incongruous mingling of the opposites : day and night, flesh and rock, animal and vegetable, or an object that floats freely in the sky.
In 1960, Magritte is looking for new themes involving the four primordial substances : water, air, earth, fire. The cloud, which is altogether immaterial and opaque, perpetually malleable, is a major figure of his Olympus.
On February 28 in London, Christie's sells La Corde sensible, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm which is a large size for this artist, lot 110 estimated £ 14M. Let us remind that the title of a work by Magritte is always a result of chance without a meaningful connection with the image.
The well-centered cloud is at its normal position in the sky above a landscape. It appears as laying and slightly entering into a monumental crystal coupe.
The mystery is multiple : Is the glass empty or full ? Is the cloud the cream of a cocktail ? What Gulliver will approach his lips onto this impossible vapor ? What is the true distance to the glass ? What is the reality of the landscape? What is the reality of our own world ? By its absence of animal or human being, La Corde sensible provides no mark.
In 1960, Magritte is looking for new themes involving the four primordial substances : water, air, earth, fire. The cloud, which is altogether immaterial and opaque, perpetually malleable, is a major figure of his Olympus.
On February 28 in London, Christie's sells La Corde sensible, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm which is a large size for this artist, lot 110 estimated £ 14M. Let us remind that the title of a work by Magritte is always a result of chance without a meaningful connection with the image.
The well-centered cloud is at its normal position in the sky above a landscape. It appears as laying and slightly entering into a monumental crystal coupe.
The mystery is multiple : Is the glass empty or full ? Is the cloud the cream of a cocktail ? What Gulliver will approach his lips onto this impossible vapor ? What is the true distance to the glass ? What is the reality of the landscape? What is the reality of our own world ? By its absence of animal or human being, La Corde sensible provides no mark.
1960 The Three Bodies of Barbara
2019 SOLD for $ 15.6M including premium
Yves Klein is passionate about his IKB saturated blue which is one of his privileged accesses to the metaphysical universe. The risk of strictly monochrome works is to exclude the human beings. In 1958 at a private party, he invited a naked woman to coat herself in IKB and to jiggle on a canvas placed on the ground for creating a full monochrome without using a brush.
He reuses this idea of a living brush in 1960 by crushing the model on a wall surface for creating an image. During a first trial in February, Restany finds the word Anthropométrie to name this unprecedented technique. Klein is delighted with this designation.
In March, Klein applies a similar process in a gallery of the rue Saint-Honoré. In this happening for a public of guests, he appears in a tuxedo with a role of master of ceremonies and of musical conductor.
These new paintings are executed without a touching of the surface by the artist, like Manzoni with the Achromes. The role of the artist is to conceive and direct the creation. The art made with a flamethrower applies a similar conception.
When women are coated in paint from the breasts to the knees, they use as a brush a part of the body that is not related to conscious thought. The blue shadows which are left by them are an immaterial intermediary between bodily and spiritual. Klein manages to explain that his approach is not erotic despite the nudity of the models.
The first Anthropométries include multiple mingled impressions. Le Buffle, IKB on paper 198 x 270 cm made in 1960 or 1961 and laid down on canvas, was sold for $ 12.4M including premium by Christie's on May 11, 2010. It is referenced ANT 93.
Barbara, referenced ANT 113, is the result of three IKB body impressions superimposed to give the illusion of a levitation. This 200 x 145 cm artwork, made in 1960 in the same technique as Le Buffle, is estimated $ 12M for sale by Christie's in New York on November 13, lot 15 B.
He reuses this idea of a living brush in 1960 by crushing the model on a wall surface for creating an image. During a first trial in February, Restany finds the word Anthropométrie to name this unprecedented technique. Klein is delighted with this designation.
In March, Klein applies a similar process in a gallery of the rue Saint-Honoré. In this happening for a public of guests, he appears in a tuxedo with a role of master of ceremonies and of musical conductor.
These new paintings are executed without a touching of the surface by the artist, like Manzoni with the Achromes. The role of the artist is to conceive and direct the creation. The art made with a flamethrower applies a similar conception.
When women are coated in paint from the breasts to the knees, they use as a brush a part of the body that is not related to conscious thought. The blue shadows which are left by them are an immaterial intermediary between bodily and spiritual. Klein manages to explain that his approach is not erotic despite the nudity of the models.
The first Anthropométries include multiple mingled impressions. Le Buffle, IKB on paper 198 x 270 cm made in 1960 or 1961 and laid down on canvas, was sold for $ 12.4M including premium by Christie's on May 11, 2010. It is referenced ANT 93.
Barbara, referenced ANT 113, is the result of three IKB body impressions superimposed to give the illusion of a levitation. This 200 x 145 cm artwork, made in 1960 in the same technique as Le Buffle, is estimated $ 12M for sale by Christie's in New York on November 13, lot 15 B.
1960 The Expression of the Hurricanes
2020 SOLD for HK$ 115M including premium
At the end of the 1950s Zao Wou-Ki visited New York. His dealer Samuel Kootz, who also represented Pierre Soulages, introduced him to the artists of abstract expressionism. His creativity then changed considerably.
Previously Zao wanted to represent the mystical origin of the world by supplementing his paintings with pseudo-calligraphic inscriptions, often centrifugal, which evoke the oldest remains of Chinese culture. This style is identified as the Oracle Bone period.
Zao intelligently understands that his Oracle Bones cannot build a universal art. His new Hurricane series offers an unprecedented synthesis of abstract expressionism and action painting, on large canvases that facilitate the amplitude and the violence of the gesture.
The transition was not instantaneous. 14.12.59, 130 x 162 cm, sold for HK $ 177M including premium by Christie's on May 26, 2018 over a lower estimate of HK $ 68M, is one of the ultimate masterpieces from the Oracle Bone series. The examples below are Hurricanes.
In a vertical format, 3.4.60-1.2.69 evokes an endless swirl. This oil on canvas 195 x 130 cm was sold for HK $ 71M including premium by Sotheby's on October 5, 2013 over a lower estimate of HK $ 20M. Also vertical, 12.15.60 preserves some traces of oracles. This oil on canvas 130 x 96 cm was sold for HK $ 49M including premium by Sotheby's on September 30, 2018 over a lower estimate of HK $ 18M.
On July 8 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells two Hurricanes, in horizontal formats that anticipate the abstract panoramas of the next phase, from 1963 to 1966. With a dominant intense blue, 19.11.59, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm, is estimated HK $ 60M, lot 1018. With the colors of fire, 20.03.60, oil on canvas 130 x 162 cm, is estimated HK $ 65M, lot 1017.
RESULTS including premium :
1959, SOLD for HK$ 110M
1960, SOLD for HK$ 115M
Previously Zao wanted to represent the mystical origin of the world by supplementing his paintings with pseudo-calligraphic inscriptions, often centrifugal, which evoke the oldest remains of Chinese culture. This style is identified as the Oracle Bone period.
Zao intelligently understands that his Oracle Bones cannot build a universal art. His new Hurricane series offers an unprecedented synthesis of abstract expressionism and action painting, on large canvases that facilitate the amplitude and the violence of the gesture.
The transition was not instantaneous. 14.12.59, 130 x 162 cm, sold for HK $ 177M including premium by Christie's on May 26, 2018 over a lower estimate of HK $ 68M, is one of the ultimate masterpieces from the Oracle Bone series. The examples below are Hurricanes.
In a vertical format, 3.4.60-1.2.69 evokes an endless swirl. This oil on canvas 195 x 130 cm was sold for HK $ 71M including premium by Sotheby's on October 5, 2013 over a lower estimate of HK $ 20M. Also vertical, 12.15.60 preserves some traces of oracles. This oil on canvas 130 x 96 cm was sold for HK $ 49M including premium by Sotheby's on September 30, 2018 over a lower estimate of HK $ 18M.
On July 8 in Hong Kong, Sotheby's sells two Hurricanes, in horizontal formats that anticipate the abstract panoramas of the next phase, from 1963 to 1966. With a dominant intense blue, 19.11.59, oil on canvas 114 x 146 cm, is estimated HK $ 60M, lot 1018. With the colors of fire, 20.03.60, oil on canvas 130 x 162 cm, is estimated HK $ 65M, lot 1017.
RESULTS including premium :
1959, SOLD for HK$ 110M
1960, SOLD for HK$ 115M
1960 Mitchell with or without Birds
2018 SOLD for $ 14M including premium
Joan Mitchell moved permanently to Paris in 1959, the year when she also began her affair with Riopelle. Her studio in rue Frémicourt is far from intellectual communities, perhaps to better preserve the authenticity and originality of her abstract creativity inspired by the colors of nature.
Despite the illusion of spontaneity close to the Action Painting, her art is the result of a meticulous preparation. Her style changes after she arrives in Paris. It brings her solution to the great ambition of the abstract expressionists to offer the visitor an infinite vision without frame : it gathers a multicolored centrifugal energy in the center of very large canvases whose edges are only reached by apparent splashes.
On November 13 in New York, Christie's sells a 296 x 200 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 14 B estimated $ 12M. An Untitled 240 x 204 cm painted in the same year and same style was sold for $ 12M including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2014.
Joan gave titles to the works which she considered the most evocative. The painting that comes on sale is named 12 Hawks at 3 O'Clock. The title in English cannot be linked to some Parisian surrealist poetry. The work also has no particularity at that time position on a clock dial.
In her attention to nature, Joan included the birds. 12 hawks at 3:00 is certainly referring to reserves for the protection of raptors in which birdwatchers recorded the flight of birds with that level of detail.
Joan had always stated a great admiration for Le Champ de Blé aux Corbeaux, considered as the ultimate and premonitory work by Vincent van Gogh. In the final phase of her life, she will paint a colorful composition inspired by this artwork, titled No Birds in a poignant effort to force optimism.
Despite the illusion of spontaneity close to the Action Painting, her art is the result of a meticulous preparation. Her style changes after she arrives in Paris. It brings her solution to the great ambition of the abstract expressionists to offer the visitor an infinite vision without frame : it gathers a multicolored centrifugal energy in the center of very large canvases whose edges are only reached by apparent splashes.
On November 13 in New York, Christie's sells a 296 x 200 cm oil on canvas painted in 1960, lot 14 B estimated $ 12M. An Untitled 240 x 204 cm painted in the same year and same style was sold for $ 12M including premium by Christie's on May 13, 2014.
Joan gave titles to the works which she considered the most evocative. The painting that comes on sale is named 12 Hawks at 3 O'Clock. The title in English cannot be linked to some Parisian surrealist poetry. The work also has no particularity at that time position on a clock dial.
In her attention to nature, Joan included the birds. 12 hawks at 3:00 is certainly referring to reserves for the protection of raptors in which birdwatchers recorded the flight of birds with that level of detail.
Joan had always stated a great admiration for Le Champ de Blé aux Corbeaux, considered as the ultimate and premonitory work by Vincent van Gogh. In the final phase of her life, she will paint a colorful composition inspired by this artwork, titled No Birds in a poignant effort to force optimism.
