Impressionist & Modern Art Evening Sale

The November 4th Evening Sale of Impressionist and Modern Art at Sotheby’s in New York was a resounding success, surpassing the high estimate and bringing a total of $181,820,000.  Five works sold for more than $10 million and two artist records were set: André Derain’s Barques au Port de Collioure brought $14,802,500, and Kees van Dongen’s Jeune Arabe totaled $13,802,500, with both significantly exceeding their high estimates.

The auction was led by Alberto Giacometti’s mesmerizing L’Homme qui Chavire, an instantly recognizable icon of the modern era cast in 1951 which sold for a remarkable $19,346,500.  Caught in the instant he loses his balance, the legendary Falling Man, as he is known in translation, exists in a state of perpetual instability and in a moment of transcendence as he hurls toward the future.

Wassily Kandinsky’s stunning Krass und Mild (Dramatic and Mild), one the greatest Bauhaus-period works to have appeared at auction in decades, achieved $10,610,500 and led a group of pictures from the collections of renowned philanthropists and patron of the arts, Dr. Arthur M. Sackler.

Demand for classic Impressionist works remained strong tonight with seven works consigned by the family of legendary art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel bringing a total of $18,929,500.  The group was led by Camille Pissarro’s Le Pont Boieldieu et la Gare d’Orléans, Rouen, Soleil, which achieved $7,026,500.

Also among the top ten lots in the sale was one of Pablo Picasso’s greatest monumental interpretations of the musketeer, Buste d’homme, 1969, which sold for $10,386,500.  The picture was included in the 1970 exhibition of the artist’s recent work at the Palais des Papes in Avignon and has not been shown publicly since.