Curtain up: Max Pechstein’s Russisches Ballett, painted in 1909 during the heyday of the “Die Brücke” Impressionist movement, will take center stage as the prize lot of the Selected Works auction scheduled for 2nd June in Berlin (EUR 2,000,000 – 3,000,000). The painting has been in private hands for over 65 years and is coming onto the art market for the first time, having been exhibited at numerous museums over the past decades (see our Press Release of 14th March 2022).
Following the successful sale to the Kunstmuseum Den Haag of one of the most spectacular re-discoveries of our past Spring Auctions, Max Beckmann’s panorama of a Dutch beach scene in 1934, Grisebach recently was entrusted with another one of the artist’s coveted seaside paintings: Grauer Strand from 1928, a work of brilliantly executed picturesque detail. At an estimated price of EUR 1,000,000 to 1,500,000, this is sure to be a further top draw of the Selected Works auction.
Among the other notable lots in the catalogue of the curated evening auction: Alexej von Jawlensky’s vibrant, Neo-impressionist Stilleben mit Blumen und Früchten (circa 1905), which exemplifies the artist’s
fascination with van Gogh’s unique style and his enthusiastic appreciation of the latter’s distinctive brushwork (EUR 200,000 – 250,000). Symparabol (1959), a composition of intense dynamism yet delicate
colouration that ranks as a key work of Gerhard Hoehme, one of the most independent and original artists of the German post-war period (EUR 80,000 – 120,000). Three paintings by Ernst Wilhelm Nay will be offered at the evening auction, including Mit grüner Scheibe, which the artist created as part of his Documenta-Bilder, an epic, oversized pictorial series from 1964 (EUR 250,000 – 350,000). Another lot is T 1981 - H 12 (1981), a particularly dynamic composition of violently clashing contrasts that qualifies as a milestone work from the late creative period of Hans Hartung (EUR 120,000 – 150,000).
Contemporary art, too, will take the spotlight at the Selected Works auction. One truly exciting and rare example in this category – never before offered at auction – is the sectional drawing “Circle Grid Overlay” (1977) by US concept artist Gordon Matta-Clark (EUR 200,000 – 250,000). It references “Office Baroque,” a work realized in Antwerp that same year, which has come to be one the artist’s best-known projects. Also represented is Georg Baselitz, a leading German artist from the post-war period: His work, 6 schöne, 4 hässliche Porträts: hässliches Porträt 9 (1988), is a visual homage to “ugliness” entirely in keeping with Baselitz’ contrarian spirit and determination to arrive at new and different concepts in each of his artworks (EUR 200,000 – 300,000). The imposing Dunkle Figur (1990/91), also making its market debut, is a fine example of Arnulf Rainer’s series of signature Kreuzbilder (EUR 180,000 – 250,000). The shape of the cross has been a recurrent motif in Rainer’s oeuvre since the 1950s, intended not as a profession of faith but as a representation of the human body.
In 2016, Grisebach successfully sold the first part of Adalbert and Thilda Colsman’s superb collection of expressionist works. The second part will now come under the hammer as a highlight of the upcoming Summer Auctions. Adalbert Colsman was the brother, respectively brother-in-law, of the famous art-collecting couple Gertrud (née Colsman) and Karl Ernst Osthaus. As collectors in their own right, Thilda and Adalbert Colsman acquired works by many of the salient protagonists of modern painting. Sixty of these gems will be offered at a dedicated auction on 2nd June. The prime lot will be Emil Nolde’s impressive oil painting Hohe See from 1939, estimated at EUR 1,000,000 to EUR 1,500,000, followed by Christina, a striking and sensitive portrait of the artist’s niece Christina Christensen from the year 1915 (EUR 400,000 – 600,000). Ewald Mataré, one of the many artists with whom the Colsmans were personally acquainted, will be represented with works such as Grosse kniende Kuh, a fine creation that showcases the artist’s mastery of materials and form (EUR 100,000 – 150,000).
The Contemporary Art auction to be held on the evening of 3rd June will feature a selection of works by important German artists, among them Karin Kneffel, an exponent of Neorealism whose virtuosically executed diptych (F XXXVIII) (1997) (180 × 360 cm) originates from her coveted series of fruit still lifes (EUR 150,000 – 200,000). Another is Markus Lüpertz, whose Pierrot Lunaire – DER DANDY (1984) can be interpreted as a self-portrait of the artist in the guise of the pantomime hero, alienated by a suit of armor (EUR 60,000 – 80,000). The monumental diptych by Andreas Schulze from 1984 (230 × 340 cm) could not be more typical for his highly expressive, sculpturally conceived visions of interior spaces (EUR 40,000 – 60,000).
The focus of the upcoming Photography Auction will be on some of the leading American pioneers of colour and street photography from the 1960s to the 1980s – artists who were more interested in capturing the rhythms of day-to-day life in the United States rather than any spectacularly arresting images. Thus, the works on offer will include landscapes and cityscapes by Bruce Davidson, Helen Levitt, Saul Leiter, and Nicholas Nixon, iconic pictures by Lee Friedlander and Garry Winogrand, as well as colour photography by Stephen Shore, Joel Meyerowitz, Lewis Baltz, Larry Sultan, and Mitch Epstein. Besides these highlights, the catalogue will be supplemented by an additional selection of photographic works by groundbreaking artists of international rank such as Michael Schmidt, Christer Strömholm, and Helmut Newton.
A particularly rare piece that will take pride of place at the 19th Century Art auction is Paul Cézanne’s Homme nu (1862/65). In this early masterful drawing – executed while he was at the Académie Suisse – the artist displays a strikingly original approach to light and shadow as well as dexterous draftsmanship (EUR 50,000 – 70,000). A focus will be formed by a number of works by Max Klinger from the collection of Fritz Tögel, an admirer of Klinger’s who became an expert in his oeuvre. The diagrammatic images, titillating sketches, and oil studies virtually bursting with color were acquired by Tögel directly from the artist’s estate and have been owned by the family ever since. Last but not least: Der heilige Eustachius by Albrecht Dürer, a fine, clear print of the largest copper engraving ever made by this German artistic genius, which also happens to be one of his most splendid and detailed. The print likely was made from the original copperplate while Dürer was still alive or just shortly after his death (EUR 40,000 – 60,000).
One more work sure to attract attention at the Selected Works auction is the atmospheric, dream-like pencil drawing In der Kirche by Adolph Menzel (after 1898), which originates from the collection of Berliner Sparkasse (EUR 60,000 – 80,000).
In sum, 660 artworks with an average estimattion total of EUR 16 million will be offered in the six Summer Auctions to be held from 1st to 3rd June. A preview of all these works will be held at our three locations on Berlin’s Fasanenstrasse (25, 27, 73) from 24th to 31st May. The special preview of the Adalbert & Thilda Colsman Collection will take place from 6th to 14th May.
Micaela Kapitzky