Lehmbruck’s melancholy at its peak

This exceptional sculpture from the early20th century led the sale, followed by other iconoclastic contemporary creations by Arman, Andy Warhol and Keith Haring.

The sensibility of German sculptor Wilhelm Lehmbruck, creator of this sensual terracotta piece known by its original name Die Geneigter Frauenkopf or Büste der Knienden (Bust of the Kneeling Woman), appealed to a collector ready to offer €258,300 (see Gazette no. 41). Dating from the short Parisian period of this artist, who resided in France until the outbreak of war in 1914, the piece is emblematic of his research into a classical modernity evolving, inevitably, towards Expressionism. Last but not least, our bust, unknown until now, is part of a corpus of now seven listed examples in clay. The mood changes with the creations of Arman, who signed a sculpture here called Barroquial, dating from 1984. This accumulation of violins in shaded patinated bronze, signed and bearing the mark of a Bocquel cast (justified “4/8”), fetched up to €49,200 (203 x 95 x 89 cm). Andy Warhol was also present with two works, the first of which was a color silkscreen from 1984 : La Fureur sans cause (James Dean), sold for €46 ,740 (96.5 x 96.5 cm). Signed in pencil and justified “133/190”, it is taken from the “Ads” series, published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York. The second from 1983 – again a color silkscreen, signed in pencil and justified “62/250” – showed Ingrid With Hat for €31,950 (96 x 96.2 cm). As for his friend Keith Haring, he was represented by another silkscreen, bought for €30 , 750 : Untitled, Fertility # 3 (The Fertility Suite), also from 1983. The sheet is justified “93/100” (107 x 127 cm). Finally, Roy Lichtenstein signed Crying Girl (1963), a lithograph (46 x 61.1 cm) at €25,215.