For many years now Paris has become the world’s Drawings Capital each March. The two sales to be held by PIASA at the Hôtel Drouot this year, on March 26 & 31, include a selection of rare yet affordable works on paper.
The March 26 sale features an eclectic ensemble of around a hundred modern and contemporary drawings.
Highlights include a two-sided gouache and wash sheet by Fernand Léger (1881- 1955), La Lecture – Portrait de Nadia (1948) / Flower Study, shown at Galerie Felix Vercel in Paris in 1981 in the artist’s centenary exhibition. In form and content, this work is closely associated with the Cubist movement to which Fernand Léger belonged. The work of another fine post-war abstract artist, Chu Teh-Chun (born 1920), blends traditional Chinese and Western-style painting – as illustrated by his 1987 Variations in Indian ink on paper.
Contemporary works include two watercolours on paper by Walasse Ting (1929- 2010), and two Untitled works on paper by Henri Michaux (1899-1944), revealing his exceptional talent as a draughtsman and highly personal use of colour. Robert Combas (born 1957), a major figure of the Figuration Libre movement, strove to redefine the use of space and colour – as reflected by his 1999 work in felt-pen on printed paper signed Rosea Cachitum Humanoïm bottom right. The American-born artist James Brown (born 1951) is represented by an Untitled watercolour on paper, monogrammed and dated bottom right.
Works by Jongkind, Bonnard, Brayer, Denis, Derain, Estève, Gen Paul, Lurcat, Vallotton and Villon, among others, complete the ensemble.
The sale on March 31 presents an extensive ensemble of Old Master Drawings from various schools. One of the most interesting is an exquisite Etude de Femme en Buste by François Boucher (1703-70) – a study for his painting Le Bouton de Rose (1765).
There is a late 18th century landscape by Moreau the Elder (1740-1806) and, from the 19th century, a portrait by Boldini (1842-1931) and superb nude study by Auguste Renoir (1841-1919): Gabrielle – Seated Nude in Profile.
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