Yesterday evening PIASA offred an important selection of multiples
by 20th century masters at the fist specialist sale organized by expert
Isabelle Milsztein since she joined the fim in September. All prints had
been meticulously chosen for their quality and rarity. Fuelled by keen
bidding from French and international print enthusiasts, the 96 lots
met great success.
‘Whenever I held lithographic stone or a copper plaque in my hands,
it felt like holding a talisman.’
Marc Chagall
The sale included a rigorous selection of prints by Marc Chagall, whose
training as an engraver made him one of the most prolifi print artists, with
an incomparable gift for creating sublime plays of light and reflctions within
them.
Top price of €60,540 went to his 1974 Bouquet of Flowers with Red Nude
(lot 14). A remarkable double-estimate €13,520 rewarded his lithograph Le Fleuve
(lot 20), showing Paris and the Seine (est. 5,000-6,000), while Multifolore
(lot 21), featuring a loving couple, one of his favourite subjects, fetched €19,320
(est. €8,000-10,000).
There were also excellent prices of €20,610 for Picasso’s 1949 black-ground
lithograph Buste sur Fond Etoilé (lot 31, est. €10,000-15,000), and €18,030 for
Matisse’s 1924 Standing Odalisque with Tray of Fruit (lot 32, est. €8,000-10,000).
‘I wanted this inaugural sale to underline the importance of engravings to
20th century masters – more than merely being interest in this discipline, they
were really passionate about it!’ explained Isabelle Milsztein. ‘Picasso, Chagall,
Matisse and Miro all made prints from stone, copper or linoleum – not forgetting
the books they illustrated, whose original plates remain masterpieces of the
genre. Thanks to great publishers like Mazo or Maeght, all these marvels were
printed in Paris, and it is important for them to be shown here!’
* All prices include buyer’s premium
