These are prints of Wayne thiebaud which were part of the largest historical collection of contemporary American prints, paintings, drawings and sculptures by Harry W. (Hunk) and Mary Margaret (Moo) acquired during their lifetime in the San Francisco Bay Area.
The Andersons began collecting in the late 60s and were always keen on fine art printmaking, which the pair refer to as “their first love” – even Moo entered the printing and publishing business in 1978, forming 3EP Ltd. Press. This selection of works – in image, technique and typography – includes some of the best work created by Wayne thiebaud (see our article “How much is his work worth”) and the collaborating printers and publishers from the 70s to 2002.
Four Cakes, from Recent Etchings I, 1979
Estimate : $30,000 – 50,000
The first prints in the selection to be offered in April are Wayne Thiebaud's 1971 Boston Cremes linoleum and Rabbit lithograph from two different series of seven images published by Parasol Press, Ltd., New York, were purchased at Menlo Park Gallery in Albert Smith. The finely engraved and colored Four Cakes packaging, from the Recent Etchings series n. 1, 1979, also published by Parasol Press, was acquired by the Smith Andersen Gallery. The complimentary drypoint pair Lipsticks-Black and Eight Lipsticks, 1988, and the pastoral color variations Hill River and Dark Hill River, 2002 were printed and published by Kathan Brown's Crown Point Press in San Francisco. The Andersons connected not only with their local galleries, but also with the artists themselves. The “printed drawings” of Thiebaud's two one-of-a-kind monotypes were purchased directly from the artist in 1978. Freeway Curve and Twin Peaks Downgrade #1 are juicy, lush examples of his caricature of urban speedway and San Francisco Street architecture.
Courtesy of Phillips
The Andersons have always been very passionate about fine art printmaking, referred to by the couple as “their first love”, even entering the printing and publishing industry in 1978, forming 3EP Ltd. Press, dedicated to monotypes and unique forms of printmaking. In the late 70s, they frequently traveled to printmaking studios and workshops to cultivate friendships with artists who by then were significant figures in American art and printmaking, including Ellsworth Kelly and Kenneth Tyler, a Gemini printer who then founded Tyler Graphics. The workshop environment and the ever-expanding artistic scope of the works they witnessed inspired the Andersons to further their support of innovations in the medium, even bringing their daughter, Putter Pence, who expanded 3EP to Los Angeles and has opened his gallery to showcase these prints along with other contemporary editions.
The auction also includes works by Jasper Johns from the same collection.
