Impressionist and Modern Art

A wide range of eastern European works is increasingly attracting strong demand at auction

Works by the Turkish artist Mubin Orhon (1924-81) can be a valuable proposition.

An eastern European picture that commanded bidding at a recent UK regional auction was a trademark painting by Polish artist Jan Lebenstein (1930-99).

It is the final months of the major exhibition of Marc Chagall (1887- 1985) works at Alon Zakaim, where visitors can expect to see lovers floating through the sky with the occasional goat in the tradition of many of the artist’s most recognisable works.

Although this small oil sketch that surfaced at Oxio Paris (24% buyer’s premium) in Saint-Ouen on November 19 was catalogued as by ‘Howard Hancock’, the signature is clearly that of David Howard Hitchcock (1861-1943).

Maurits Cornelis Escher (1898-1972) arrived on the Amalfi Coast in 1923 and ultimately created more than 100 works there based on the landscape.

A group of Modern and Impressionist pictures provided a significant boost to the latest Art & Design post 1880 sale held at Duke’s (25% buyer’s premium).

An ancient Egyptian sculptural fragment was the most eagerly contested lot in Thomaston Place Auction Galleries’ (20% buyer’s premium) Autumn Majestic sale on November 10-12.

A good crop of top-end Impressionist and Modern pictures lifted the latest flagship series of auctions in New York.

Maud Lewis (1901-70) is hailed today as one of Canada’s greatest folk artists, with her works regularly bringing tremendous results at auction.

Sotheby’s (26/20/13.9% buyer’s premium plus 1% overhead premium) staged three Impressionist, Modern and Contemporary auctions in Paris during the second half of October.

The most contested lot in Bonhams’ October 19 Expressionism: Germany, Austria and Beyond sale was a self-portrait by the German painter Hermann Lismann (1878-1943).

A raft of Modern and Contemporary art auctions were held in Paris in the second half of October coinciding with the Paris + par Art Basel fair held at the Grand Palais Ephemère.

Konrad Klapheck, who died at the end of July aged 88, was a pioneer of German pop art and is credited with the invention of so-called Machine Paintings.

The career of the French artist Pierre Soulages spanned over 80 years. He died in 2022 at the age of 102.

Two of the highest prices at auction in the last 20 years for Dame Ethel Walker (1861-1951) came at Roseberys’ (26% buyer’s premium) latest Modern British & 20th Century Art sale.

A textbook 1900 oil by the French Impressionist Henry Moret (1856-1913) led the field at Clars (26% buyer’s premium) in Oakland, California, on September 14.