On Tuesday, June 6th and Wednesday, June 7th, PIASA is organizing two auctions of modern and contemporary art.
Gérard Schneider (1896-1986)
Untitled, 1979
Estimate: 6000 / 9000 €
- Modern and Contemporary Art I, Tuesday, June 6th, 2023 -
Based on artistic movements and periods dear to PIASA -- such as the Paris School, narrative figuration, free figuration, and more -- the first iteration of this auction offers a unique look at creation in France during the second half of the 20th century, through rare works by major artists such as Nicolas de Staël, Pierre Soulages, Alain Jacquet, Martial Raysse, Bernar Venet, Robert Combas. In addition, among the rarities of this sale are several pieces by foreign artists, some of whom have had very close ties with France.
A major figure in kinetic art, the Greek artist Takis is thus present through five sculptures, including a very iconic Wind Signal over 3.50 meters high (lot 24). As the name suggests, the piece moves with the wind. An entire installation from this series can be seen in a public commission installed at La Défense.
Takis Vassilakis (1925-2019)
Wind signal, 1976-1989
Estimate: 120000 / 180000 €
Often celebrated for his wooden sculptures, the German artist Georg Baselitz claims through the painting Junge Kunst (lot 18) his status as a painter, which he believes embodies a form of eternal quest of the artist. Painted in 1990 when the artist was in his late fifties, this painting, whose name in French means "young work," in fact reinterprets a motif he created in his youth.
Finally, the work of Alina Szapocznikow (lot 37) is particularly unclassifiable and in many ways autobiographical. The organic sculptures from the tumor series bear witness to the physical suffering and illnesses from which the artist suffered (cancer, tuberculosis...). If you look closely, you can see tangled body parts.
- Modern and Contemporary Art II, Wednesday, June 7th, 2023 -
The second iteration offers a broader look at the international creations of this same period. It is based in particular on private collections and ensembles of artists' works.
Among the selection from the former Jacques and Solange du Closel collection, the painting by the American Beauford Delanney (lot 36) is a very personal account of the artist. Indeed, it is precisely the portrait he painted of Solange du Closel. The Arte Povera artist Jannis Kounellis is represented by a formidable group of 12 works on paper (oil pastels, Indian ink and pencil) produced between 2002 and 2016 and assembled in the Manolis Baboussis collection in Athens, which is now offering them for sale (lot 107).
Beauford Delaney (1901-1979)
Portrait de Solange du Closel
Estimate: 60000 / 80000 €
Finally, active between 1968 and 1990, the Bordeaux collective Présence Panchounette has distinguished itself on the French scene by its conceptual work largely inspired by the Situationists. The sale presents four installations (lots 81 to 84) from a series involving creations of African origin, most often commissioned from artists. These installations will take shape from 1983 following a trip to Cameroon by some of the members, and will continue for 2 years. In 1986 and 1987, a large exhibition of Présence Panchounette entitled Banlieues Sud - Expressions d'Afrique (a nod to Raymond Roussel's famous Impressions d'Afrique) brought together all the productions.
Présence Panchounette (1969-1990)
Cogito Ergo Sum, 1986
Estimate: 18000 / 25000 €
