Fine Art Sales Roundup for Swann Galleries
Modern & Post-War Art, Fine Photographs & Contemporary Art
New York—Auctions of Modern & Post-War Art, Fine Photographs and Contemporary Art at Swann Galleries in late May and early June 2021 brought in a total of $3,985,089 and at least 11 records.
The second iteration of Swann’s newly established dedicated Modern & Post-War Art sales helmed by Harold Porcher delivered exceptional results proving the staying power of the category. “Driving the energy of the sale was the strong interest in Post-War American women artists. Buffie Johnson’s Mist, a 1960 oil measuring packs a punch for its modest size and set the world auction record at $21,250. Another small work by Elaine de Kooning from her Bacchus Series achieved $57,500. Other notable results realized in this auction went to works by Emily Mason and March Aver,” noted Porcher. The May 20 sale boasted a 92% sell-through rate by lot, earning $688,722, over a $562,300 high estimate. Additional works of note included 7 Maidens, a 1963 Duco-and-oil minimalist work by John Wesley, which led the sale at $93,750; as well as works by Maurice Sievan, Albert Stadler, James Hilleary and John Skolle, which earned records for the artists.
The Fine Photographs sale on May 27 saw two records, and totaled at $1,106,930. “We continue to see strength in emerging collecting, with high numbers of new bidders across the spectrum. The sale results reflect strength in Depression-era photography, especially Dorothea Lange, as well as the twentieth-century humanist masters. Happily, we also saw real strength in lesser known, but important practitioners, such as Hannes Beckmann,” said Swann photographs director, Deborah Rogal, of the sale. An artist record was set for Beckmann with Glasses, a silver print, circa 1935, at $20,000—Beckmann, who is more commonly known as a painter, has recently been drawing interest as a photographer with works that are quite rare to the market. Roy DeCarava’s Catsup Bottles, Table and Coat, New York, silver print, 1952, printed 1982, earned a record for the image at $42,500. Also of note was Robert Frank leading the sale with Covered Car, Long Beach, California, silver print, 1955–56, printed 1971, at $52,500. House favorite Dorothea Lange delivered strong results across the board with a run of works, in particular Woman of the High Plains, Texas Panhandle, silver print, 1938, printed circa 1960, bringing $45,000.
Of the June 10 sale of Contemporary Art, Todd Weyman, director of prints and drawings, noted, “Totaling over $2 million and coming in squarely within the overall sale estimate, the sale was among the house’s top auctions of Contemporary Art and matched expectations in this booming market. Portraits were in high demand, with new world records set for Andy Warhol’s Mick Jagger, 1975 ($106,250), and Robert Longo’s Rick, 1994 ($45,000).” A high-point of the sale a run of was feminist artworks from the collection of Harriet Lyons, a founding editor of Ms. Magazine; Alice Neel‘s watercolor and crayon Portrait of Harriet Lyons, 1974, which earned $87,500, a record for a drawing by Neel, was the highlight of the offering. “We were honored to handle works from the collection of Harriet Lyons in this auction, and beyond her portrait by Alice Neel, which quadrupled its presale estimate, the Lyons collection went to collectors after enthusiastic and tenacious bidding,” said Weyman. Additional records for the sale included Vija Celmins’s Comet, 1992, at $30,000.
Swann Galleries is currently accepting consignments for the fall 2021 season. For the house’s most up-to-date auction schedule please visit swanngalleries.com.
Key: † = Artist Record; ♦ = Record for Medium; * = Record for Print
Additional highlights can be found here:
Captions:
Elaine de Kooning, Bacchus, acrylic on panel. 1983. Sold for $57,500.
Hannes Beckmann, Glasses, silver print, circa 1935. Sold for $20,000, a record for the artist.
Alice Neel, Portrait of Harriet Lyons, color crayons, watercolor, gouache and pencil, 1974. Sold for. $87,500, a record for a drawing by Neel.
Specialists:
Modern & Post-War Art: Harold Porcher • [email protected] • 212-254-4710 x 67
Photographs & Photobooks: Deborah Rogal • [email protected] • 212-254-4710 x 55
Contemporary Art: Todd Weyman • [email protected] • 212-254-4710 x 32
CMO: Alexandra Nelson • [email protected] • 212-254-4710 x 19
Public Relations Associate: Kelsie Jankowski • [email protected] • 212-254-4710 x 23
Social media: @swanngalleries
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ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE, ADDL. IMAGES & COMPLETE PRICES REALIZED ON REQUEST
Swann Auction Galleries is a third-generation family business as well as the world’s largest auction house for works on paper. In the last 75 years, Swann has repeatedly revolutionized the trade with such innovations as the first U.S. auction dedicated to photographs and the world’s only department of African-American Fine Art. More than 30 auctions and previews are held annually in Swann Galleries’ two-floor exhibition space in Midtown Manhattan, and online worldwide. Visit swanngalleries.com for more information.
