There is great expectation for a Christie's auction to be held in London on March 20: collectors' eyes will be focused mainly on two works, one by Munch, entitled "Young woman on the beach", and one by Matisse, entitled " Jazz".
For the work of Edvard Munch, it is an aquatint and drypoint with burnishing, printed in blue, brown, gray and pink, from 1896, on laid Arches paper with partial watermark, signed in pencil, probably printed by A. Porcaboeuf at the A. Salmon Atelier in Paris (P. 290 x 220 mm., S. 450 x 311 mm).
In 1986 Munch worked a lot on engraving, producing several prints of different sizes, including a small group of burnished aquatints of which Girl on the Beach is the masterpiece. After 1897, however, Munch continued to work in this technique and his color aquatints are quite rare and highly sought after.
But it is not the only work in the auction that arouses interest, there is also a complete work by Matisse: Jazz (D.-M. books 22), a complete series of 20 color drawings, 1947, executed with the pochoirs technique , the complete sheets, loose (as published), are in excellent condition and measure overall 438 x 667 mm.
Henri Matisse he made 'jazz' towards the end of his life, and despite the difficulties painting as he was bedridden to work, it is still a glorious celebration of life, a riot of pure color and playful form.
The twenty "pochoirs" mark a radical turning point in Matisse's new work. The maquettes for Jazz are among the first samples of a medium entirely of his own invention, the "papiers découpés", which led him to abandon painting altogether in favor of this new technique.
Although initially Matisse refused to work exclusively on an entire book with paper cut-out design, he later convinced himself and skillfully developed this technique, putting great energy and working for several months of intense and feverish creative activity between 1943 and 1944 .
Inspired by the circus, popular tales and exotic travels, Matisse thought of his clippings as “souvenir crystallisations” (D. Fourcade, Henri Matisse – Écrits et propos sur l'art, Paris, 1972). The work, before being called "Jazz", was originally entitled "Cirque". The book was published in 1947 and met with unprecedented success. The work features images that are almost abstract, yet poetic and evocative, making "Jazz" one of the largest and most influential print series of the 20th century.
The auction sees other beautiful works such as:
Albrecht Durer – Adam and Eve (B., M., Holl. 1; SMS estimate $121,040 – $181,560)
Max Beckman (1884-1950) – Selbstbildnis mit steifem Hut (Hofmaier – estimate: 105,910 – $151,300)
Andy Warhol – Superman, from: Myths (F. & S. IIB.260) – $90,780 – $121,040
Andy Warhol – Cologne Cathedral (F. & S. II.361-364) – estimate 75,650 – 105,910 USD
Andy Warhol – $(4) (cf F.&.S. IIA.281-282) – estimate 75,650 – 105,910 USD
