2024 celebrates the 100th anniversary of Surrealism, in reference to the publication of the Manifesto of Surrealism by André Breton in 1924. On Wednesday June 5, 2024, PIASA will have the privilege of auctioning a selection of major Surrealist works from the Geneviève and Jean-Paul Kahn collection.
The collection has been built up over the decades, bringing together paintings, works on paper and sculptures, all selected with immense rigor, taking into consideration both the intrinsic quality of the compositions and the dates of creation.
The Geneviève et Jean-Paul Kahn "A Thousand Nights of Dreams" library, dispersed over six auctions in the last five years, has offered lovers of surrealism some long-hidden treasures.
Marcel Duchamp (1887 – 1968)
L.H.O.O.Q., 1964
Rectified Ready-Made
Estimate: 200 000 / 300 000 €
Jean-Paul Kahn, a precursor in many of his choices, and Geneviève went through this "amour fou", this "trajectoire du rêve" where books, objects, drawings, collages, photographs and paintings brought about this great "surrealist revolution", through a cabinet of curiosities where Marcel Duchamp, Remedios Varo, Dorothea Tanning, Max Ernst, Oscar Dominguez, Victor Brauner, Eileen Agar and so many others rubbed shoulders. So many objects, paintings and collages that respond to each other under the very feminine gazes of these surrealist women whom both collected early on. Like these "Thousand Nights of Dreams", this surrealist cabinet, long hidden from view, will be offered to the delight of art lovers on June 5, in accordance with the wishes of its owners.
Jackson Pollock (1912 – 1956)
Untitled, circa 1944
India ink, pencil highlights
Estimate: 180 000 / 250 000 €
Bringing together a large number of international artists from Europe, the United States, Latin America and the Dominican Republic, this collection reflects the singular spirit of a surrealist ensemble with literary ramifications ranging from exquisite cadavers to objects with that very feminine accent dear to Geneviève and Jean-Paul Kahn.
Among the lots presented in this sale, you will discover one of the most iconic images of Surrealism, Marcel Duchamp's famous Mona Lisa L.H.O.O.Q., an emblematic composition by Dorothea Tanning, a veritable eulogy to movement, a sculpture box by the American artist Joseph Cornell and an extraordinary Surrealist drawing by Jackson Pollock.
Dorothea Tanning (1910 – 2012)
Les Trois Garces, 1953
Oil on canvas
Estimate: 300 000 / 400 000 €
At the same time, this collection confirms the natural link between the surrealist movement and American Pop Art, with works by major representatives of the latter, including two self-portraits by Andy Warhol, a hot dog by Roy Lichtenstein, an emblematic composition by Robert Indiana and an object sculpture by Claes Oldenburg.
Kay Sage (1898 – 1963)
The Other Side of the Square, 1947
Oil on canvas
Estimate: 100 000 / 150 000 €
