Titled ‘Masterpieces and Editions,’ AstaGuru’s upcoming auction is set to unveil a medley of works by global masters from varied periods of modern art. This finely curated selection will traverse the rich tapestry of artistic evolution, from the early 20th-century movements to the groundbreaking artistic expressions in the contemporary era with creations by artists, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Bernard Buffet, Marc Chagall, René Magritte, and Joan Miró. The finely curated selection also showcases creations by Surrealist master Salvador Dalí as well as works in three different mediums by famous pop art icon Andy Warhol. Also on offer is a range of signature style creations by globally renowned contemporary artists, including Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Fernando Botero, Anthony James, and KAWS. The auction is scheduled to be held on July 20-21, 2023.
The auction presents a comprehensive outlook on different important periods and movements of modern art. For instance, we have a work by Pierre Auguste Renoir, who was an extremely important figure in the Impressionist movement. Executed with graphite on paper, the work is titled ‘Pont Sur La Seine,’ which translates to ‘Bridge Over The Seine’ in English. The iconic subject has captured the imagination of several notable artists who sought to depict the essence of modern life and the significance of architectural elements in art. The auction showcases works by two other iconic French artists – Henri Matisse and Bernard Buffet.
The work by Matisse was executed with pencil on paper in 1920, the nude work depicts a figure in a reclining pose.
The work by Bernard Buffet is a portrait titled ‘Tête De Femme,’ and was executed in 1958 with coloured crayon on paper.
Several works by Pablo Picasso, who is considered to be one of the founding figures of the Cubist movement are also being showcased. One of these, titled Nu Couché is a figurative work executed with a pencil on paper in 1969. It was also published in a book titled ‘Pablo Picasso’ by C. Zervos in 1976.
Another significant work belongs to a limited-edition of offset lithographs, created after Picasso’s paintings in ‘Barcelona Suite’ to celebrate his 85th birth anniversary in 1966. It is a portrait of model Benedetta Bianco, who was known as Madam Ricardo Canals. The work is hand signed by the artist.
The auction also showcases works from Marc Chagall, a famous modernist associated with several movements.
The selection also presents works from three iconic artists associated with Surrealism – Salvador Dalí, René Magritte, and Joan Miró.
Four works by Surrealist Master Salvador Dalí will also be offered. One of these is a famous sculpture titled ‘Horse Saddled with Time,’ a first from a limited edition of eight. Executed with bronze in 1980, this work blends two significant themes recurrent in Salvador Dalí’s career: horses and clocks. The motif of the melted clock, embodying the passage of time, is synonymous with Dalí’s 1931 painting, ‘The Persistence of Memory,’ considered one of the most important works in the history of Surrealism.
Another of his works is titled ‘The Sprint At Evian (Perrier)’, was created in 1968 as a model for an advertisement for Perrier water. Executed with ink and collage on gilt paper, the composition is adorned with placements of vibrantly coloured figurative collage cutouts.
A work by another important Spanish artist Joan Miró, is also offered. Titled ‘L’oustachi (Ed : 41/50),’ it was executed in 1978.
In 1967, the last year of his life, artist René Magritte decided to produce sculptures inspired by some of his paintings. The resulting sculptures, such as the presented lot, became instantly recognisable due to carrying the legacy of his unique and distinct visual iconography. Titled – Joconde (the happy one), the presented lot is a bronze sculpture inspired by his painting executed in 1960. The theme of the painting recurred in Magritte’s works in different iterations. In this sculpture, three closed curtains stand upright with a large pebble resting at their side. Depicted sans the customary context of a window, the curtains hint at a hidden realm beyond them. At the same time, conceal nothing in actuality.
The auction also traces the progression of the artistic movements after the mid-20th century. The decades of the 60s to the 80s were pinnacle for the Pop Art movement, and the auction will showcase works by two famous artists of the era – Andy Warhol and David Hockney.
One of the most iconic figures of the Retro Era, Andy Warhol continues to be alive through his unique quirky oeuvre that remains extremely recognisable in the popular mass culture of the 21st century. Four works by him will be showcased in the auction.
One of them is a portrait work, a style central to Warhol’s art practice. Titled ‘Portrait Of Joseph Beuys’, the work was derived from a single Polaroid photo that Warhol took of German conceptual artist Joseph Beuys. First executed in 1980 at the request of Beuys, these portraits continued to feature in Warhol works, even after the death of the German artist.
The artist attracted widespread attention with what is now known as his Death and Disaster pictures, including a work based on Jackie Kennedy at the presidential funeral of her slain husband. Warhol drew inspiration for these screenprints from press images he gathered in the months that followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. His selection focused on capturing iconic moments featuring Jacqueline Kennedy, just before and after she became a widow. By deliberately cropping the images tightly around her face, Warhol presented Jackie’s evolving expressions as a visual timeline of the tragic event.
The auction will also showcase one of the posters that Warhol created to commemorate the Fifth New York Film Festival at Lincoln Center, New York, in 1967, as well as one graphite on paperwork titled ‘Dog,’ which depicts a Cocker Spaniel.
One of the most influential British artists of the 20th century, David Hockney, has left an indelible mark on the art world with his ability to reinvent himself and push the boundaries of his artistic expression. In 1963, he made his first journey to Southern California in the US. Falling in love with the radiant sunshine and laidback lifestyle, he decided to relocate to Los Angeles. His portrayal of the city in highly evocative paintings of modernist architecture, rolling hills, and swimming pools became one of the most recognisable themes in his work. Often depicting leisurely moments of life around swimming pools, these colourful paintings are imbued with a web of cultural connotations.
Also being showcased is a work titled ‘Couple’ which is a signature style creation by renowned Colombian artist Fernando Botero, executed with pencil & watercolor on paper in 2009. The artistic prowess of Fernando Botero resonates globally owing to this signature style of rotund and inflated forms.
