Head of Sale, Laetitia Guillotin, commented: “Chagall's lithographs of Le Cirque are without doubt among his best achievements as a printmaker and embody the dreamlike compositions for which he is famous. It is not surprising that this stunning playful work attracted such attention and we’re delighted with this impressive result. We are also very pleased to have achieved such wonderful prices for our exceptional selection of American prints, as well as for David Hockney’s iPad drawing – The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven)- 5 May – which far exceeded its pre-sale estimate. We’re now very much excited for our Banksy Online sale, which runs until 29 June.”
Other highlights of the sale included:
• David Hockney (born 1937), The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty eleven)- 5 May, iPad drawing in colours, 2011. Sold for £125,250 (estimate: £40,000 - 60,000) – a new world auction record for this particular print by the artist. Regarded as one of the most important and innovative British artists of the 20th century, David Hockney has often explored different ways to make art and has utilised new technologies, experimenting with his iPhone in 2007 before adopting the iPad and Stylus in 2010. A major exhibition of Hockney’s iPad works David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 is currently on show at The Royal Academy of Arts, London until 26 September 2021.
• The sale also achieved impressive results for the large selection of much-sought-after American Prints (lots 41-60) including Mick Jagger a 1975 screenprint by Andy Warhol (1928-1987), which sold for £62,750 (estimate: £25,000 - 30,000), Titled, 1996, by Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997), sold for £24,000 (estimate: £15,000 - 20,000), and Untitled, by Keith Haring (1958-1990) from The Fertility Suite series, 1983, which sold for £44,000 (estimate: £25,000 - 35,000).
• Works by William Kentridge (born 1955), including the lithograph, Middle-age Love, 2002, which sold for £27,750 (estimate: £22,000 - 32,000). In March, Bonhams set a new world record for a drawing by Kentridge in the Post-War & Contemporary Art sale in London.
• Die Träumenden Knaben (The Dreaming Youths) by Oskar Kokoschka (1886-1990). The volume, which dated from 1908, comprised ten lithographs. This particular copy was gifted by the artist to the owner’s grandmother and was signed and dedicated – rare for this particular book. Sold for £10,200 (estimate: £8,000 - 12,000).
• Nu assis à la chemise de tulle, a 1925 lithograph by Henri Matisse (1869-1954). Sold for £27,750 (estimate: £25,000 - 35,000).
• Head of Bruce Bernard, a 1985 etching by Lucian Freud (1922-2011). Sold for £15,250 (estimate: 12,000 - 18,000).
• Pumpkin 2000 (Yellow), a screenprint in colours, from 2000, by Yayoi Kusama (born 1929). Sold for £35,250 (estimate: £12,000 - 18,000).
• Le Chapeau Épinglé, an extremely rare 1ère Planche drypoint, 1894-95, by Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919). Sold for £20,250 (estimate: £7,000 - 10,000).
Chagall’s Le Cirque Tops Bill at Bonhams Prints Sale
Courtesy of Bonhams
Marc Chagall, Le Cirque, the complete portfolio comprising 38 lithographs, sold for £250,250.
London — The complete portfolio of Marc Chagall’s Le Cirque was the star of the show at Bonhams’ Prints and Multiples sale today (23 June) at New Bond Street, London. The work sold for £250,250 against an estimate of £100,000-150,000, setting a new world auction record this complete portfolio by the artist.
The 82-lot sale made a total of £1,175,833 with 77% sold by lot and 92% sold by value.
Courtesy of Bonhams
