Recently, there have been continuous discussions about Sotheby’s autumn auction. After the preview of the modern art evening auction held at K11 Musea two weeks ago, the discussion about this auction continues to heat up! In addition to Wong Kar Wai’s special event, this evening autumn auction also has many highlights, including Western masters such as Van Gogh, the father of sculpture Rodin, Picasso and other masterpieces, as well as a strong lineup of Asian artists such as Zhang Daqian, Zao Wou-Ki, and others. This lineup is expected to continue the success of the first half of the year’s auctions and continue to break records for contemporary art!
This season’s evening auction is led by two masterpieces of lovers, Chang Yu’s “Sleeping Beauty” and Picasso’s portrait “Woman Sitting with Folded Arms” created for his second wife Jacqueline. It also presents a number of rare masterpieces by Asian and European masters, including Van Gogh’s first appearance at an Asian auction house with “Still Life: Vase with Oleanders”, Rodin’s legendary marble sculpture “Napoleon’s Dream”, Chang Yu’s timeless treasure “Nude Back on a Chair”, and two peak masterpieces from Zao Wou-Ki’s “Wild Cursive Period”.
估價：100,000,000 至 150,000,000 港元
Zhuang Yan’s masterpiece “Sleeping Beauty” created in the 1950s is the only large-scale oil painting in his entire career that can clearly be modeled after a lover. The painting combines Eastern “blank space” aesthetics with Zen “spiritual” imagery, breaking through the Western surrealist perspective in a groundbreaking way. This work is Zhuang Yan’s most intimate expression of his love life in his later years, becoming the best clue for the world to explore the artist’s emotional world in his later years. Whether from the perspective of artistic quality, aesthetic height, academic value, or historical significance, this painting is truly unique.
右：巴布羅・畢加索《抱膝女子》 油彩、力普林釉漆畫布 1954 年作 92.2 x 73 公分 估價：150,000,000 – 230,000,000 港元
This orchid oil painting was created in 1886, refreshing Van Gogh’s previous dark and heavy style. At this time, the artist was focused on still life floral themes in Paris, and this work, with its vivid colors and strong brushstrokes, reflects his passion and rebirth in life. At the same time, Van Gogh was influenced by the popular Japonisme in Europe at the time, and the painting embodies the beauty of Eastern art in composition, color, and spiritual temperament. This painting captures the artist’s personal transformation and laid the foundation for his iconic sunflower series in the future. It is the only flower still life from Van Gogh’s “Paris period” to appear in auctions in over 20 years, and its significance in both artistic and historical aspects should not be overlooked.
“The Woman with Folded Arms” is a brilliant portrait created by Picasso for his last wife, Jacqueline. Since 1954, Jacqueline’s face began to permeate Picasso’s work, achieving the artist’s most grand and enduring theme series of his lifetime. In the same year this work was created, Picasso began his series paying tribute to Delacroix and Matisse’s theme of the Grande Odalisque with “Les Femmes d’Alger,” and “The Woman with Folded Arms” served as the prototype for this series.
估價:70,000,000 至 90,000,000 港元
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Napoleon’s death, another highlight of this evening’s auction falls on the legendary marble sculpture “Napoleon I” by the father of modern sculpture, Rodin. Rodin draped Napoleon in ancient Roman imperial military attire in a semi-abstract form, symbolizing his invincibility like Emperor Caesar, showcasing abundant romanticism. Rodin’s marble sculptures are extremely precious, accounting for less than two percent of the total auction items in the artist’s global auction records. Whenever a piece is released, it sparks a collector frenzy, and I believe this time will be no exception.
右：趙無極《14.12.62》 油畫畫布 1962 年作 129.8 x 97 公分 估價:58,000,000 至 88,000,000 港元
In addition to Western art masterpieces, two works from Zao Wou-Ki’s “wild cursive” period are also extremely rare. The 1960s were the peak of Zao Wou-Ki’s career, during which the artist was deeply inspired by abstract expressionism, completely freeing the composition from representational interference, ushering in the peak of the “wild cursive” period. The painting “30.09.65” presented in this auction is dominated by deep blue tones, with lines intertwining and colliding, creating a continuous circle of energy. There are only seventeen works of the same size as Zao Wou-Ki’s “wild cursive” period and “30.09.65,” making them highly collectible. The other work, “14.12.62,” with yellow as the main tone, features a halo standing upright on the central axis, exuding a sense of energy that allows viewers to feel the majestic momentum within the painting.
The lineup for this autumn auction is strong, not only with the blessing of Wong Kar Wai, but also bringing together rare and meticulous works from contemporary art masters from the East and West. With less than two weeks left until the auction begins, if you want to know whether this batch of artworks can break Sotheby’s first half of the year trading record, remember to keep an eye on the latest auction updates!
Image source and learn more: Sotheby’s
