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Almine Rech
tom wesselmann
Tom Wesselmann (USA, Ohio 1931-2004 New York) 'Smoker Study (For Smoker #11)', 1972 Oil on canvas 29.2 x 29.2 cm 46.4 x 46.4 x 3.8 cm (framed) Examined by the WPI's Wesselmann committee on 13 December 2023, for inclusion in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné Provenance: estate of the artist Courtesy of the Estate of Tom Wesselmann and Almine Rech / Photo: Thomas Barratt Smoker Study (For Smoker #11), 1972 belongs to Tom Wesselmann’s Smoker series, which the artist began in 1967. Born out of a desire to isolate and further investigate the representation of lips and the act of smoking, the Smoker series also found its origin in advertising, and stands as testament to the major role Wesselmann occupied in the birth and development of the Pop aesthetic. Today, Wesselmann’s Smoker paintings are among his most renowned works. The series began with Smoker, 1 (Mouth, 12), 1967, which is now held in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Wesselmann found photography to be a useful medium to capture his models in poses he would later translate to larger scale works. On one occasion, his friend Peggy Sarno lit a cigarette during a modeling session. Wesselmann took some photographs of her as she inhaled, still posing in a reclined position. This moment inspired the Smoker series, which is characterised by the presence of vivid red lips juxtaposed with curling white smoke. Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) is both bold and intimate, capturing a single moment of pleasure in a complex and ambitious composition indicative of the artist’s experimentation with subject, form, and color. In mid-century America, cigarette advertisements were incredibly elaborate, among the most sophisticated forms of marketing. As well as standing as an example of Wesselmann’s fascination with popular culture and the female body, Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) also demonstrates the artist’s mastery of oil paint, attention to detail, and sophisticated compositional style. In the 1960s, Wesselmann had been developing his Great American Nudes series when he was inspired to focus on specific details of female figures. In an almost fetishistic act, he started isolating elements of the female figure, creating smaller preparatory pieces as well as larger scale works depicting hands, breasts, and lips. Out of this approach his Mouth paintings and Smoker Series, works such as Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) were born. Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004) was one of the leading American Pop artists of the mid-20th Century. Departing from Abstract Expressionism, he explored classical representations of the nude, still life, and landscape, while incorporating everyday objects and advertising ephemera. Wesselmann was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 23, 1931. He attended Hiram College in Ohio from 1949 to 1951 before entering the University of Cincinnati. In 1953, his studies were interrupted by a two-year enlistment in the army, during which time he began drawing cartoons. He returned to the university in 1954 and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1956. During this time, he decided to pursue a career in cartooning and enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he was accepted into the Cooper Union and where his focus shifted dramatically to fine art.
Virginie Devillez Fine Art
rené magritte
René Magritte (Lessines 1898-1967 Brussels) Le Prince charmant, 1948 Gouache on paper 37 x 46 cm Signed lower left 'Magritte' Provenance: Willy van Hove-Cuche, Brussels; private collection; Galerie Motte, Genève (auction 7 December 1973, lot 30); Margaret Krebs, Brussels; Christie’s, London (auction 27 June 1978, lot 145); Sotheby’s, London (auction 6 February 2001, lot 157); Beaux-Arts Auction, Brussels (auction 26 April 2005, lot 51); private collection, Belgium Literature: Ronny Van de Velde, René Magritte. Peintures et gouaches, Antwerp, 1994, ill. n. p.; David Sylvester (Ed.), René Magritte – Catalogue Raisonné. IV: Gouaches, Temperas, Watercolours and Papiers Collés 1918-1967, Menil-Foundation/Fonds Mercator, 1994, CR 261 (ill. p. 102); Esther Schlicht & Max Hollein (Éd.), René Magritte 1948. La période vache, Frankfurt, Schirn Kunsthalle, 2008-2009, ill. p. 45; Paris, Galerie du Faubourg, Magritte: peintures et gouaches, 1948, cat. n° 24 ( ? or CR 1260); Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, René Magritte: het mysterie van de werkelijkheid, 1967, cat. n° 97 (ill. p. 223); Stockholm, Moderna Museet, René Magritte, 1967, cat. n° 50; Paris, Fondation Dina Vierny – Musée Maillol, Magritte tout en papier, 2006, without cat. n° (ill. p. 160); Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Voici Magritte. Gouaches, collages, tekeningen, studies, schilderijen, 2006, without cat. n° (ill. p. 160); Paris, Centre Pompidou – Musée national d’Art moderne, Magritte. La Trahison des Images, 2016-2017, without cat. n° (ill. p. 152); Skärhamn, Nordiska Akvarellmuseet, Magritte. A Lab of Ideas. Works on paper, 2022, without cat. n° (ill. p. 135)
HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC
Emile Othon Friesz (Le Havre 1879-1949 Paris) Bord de Mer, circa 1907 Oil on canvas 54 x 65 cm Signed lower right: Othon Friesz This work will be included in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné of the painted work of Emile Othon Friesz which is currently being prepared by the Galerie Aittouarès. Notice of inclusion n° 25361, delivered by Mrs. Odile Aittouarès on 3 January 2025
Galerie Patrice Trigano
césar
César, alias César Baldaccini (Marseille 1921-1998 Paris) Hommage à Eiffel, 1989 Welded bronze Bocquel foundry 280 x 200 x 55 cm Signed and numbered Provenance: acquired from the artist in 1990 Literature: P. Restany, César, éd. De la Différence, Paris, 1988, p. 65 and p. 328 (Monumental version of Cartier Foundation, photography in progress); B.-H. Lévy, César, les bronzes, Éditons de la Différence, Galerie Baubourg, Paris, 1991, p. 24; César, Oeuvres de 1947 à 1993, Musée de Marseille, Réunion des Musées Nationaux, Marseille, 1993, p. 159; César, Galerie Enrico Navarra, Paris, 1996, pp. 76-77; César, Museu Brasileiro da Escultura Marilisa Rathsam, Sao Paulo, 1999, p. 212; Paris, Centre Georges Pompidou, César la rétrospective, December 2017- March 2018, p. 173; Archives Denyse Durand-Ruel, n° 4499 Exhibitions: Marseille, centre de la Vieille Charité, César, oeuvres de 1947 à 1993, July-September 1993, p. 159; Monte-Carlo, César à Monte-Carlo, May-September 1993, (unnumbered); Luxembourg, Dexia Banque Internationale, Hommage à César, October-December 2000, p. 70; Cannes, La Malmaison, César, l’oeuvre de bronze, July-October 2002, p. 86; Travelling exhibition: Cannes, parvis du palais des Festivals, July-September 2002; Geneviève, Galerie Artrium, September-December 2002; Rabat, Musée Mohammed VI d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, César, une histoire méditerranéenne, December 2015-March 2016, reproduced in colour p. 68 and p. 70
DIE GALERIE
pierre alechinsky
Pierre Alechinsky (Brussels, 1927) Le Point du Jour, 1966 Oil on canvas 130 x 81 cm Signed lower right 'Alechinsky'; signed, dated and entitled verso Certificate by the artist from 19 March 2012 Provenance: Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen; DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main Literature: Pierre Alechinsky, Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen 1966; CoBrA. Una grande avanguardia europea 1948-1951, exh. cat. Fondazione Roma Museo, Palazzo Cipolla, Rome 2015, p. 211 Exhibitions: Pierre Alechinsky, Galerie Birch, Kopenhagen 1966; CoBrA international – Momente einer Utopie, Museum für aktuelle Kunst, Sammlung Hurrle, Durbach, 2012-2013; CoBrA – Una grande avanguardia europea 1948-1951, Fondazione Roma Museo, Palazzo Cipolla, Rom, 2015-2016; 70 Years of CoBrA, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main, 2018; Pierre Alechinsky and his artist friends, DIE GALERIE, Frankfurt am Main, 2025
Galerie von Vertes
pierre soulages
Pierre Soulages (Rodez, 1919-2022) Peinture 92 x 130 cm, 4 mai 2004 Acrylic on canvas 92 x 130 cm Verso signed and titled ‘SOULAGES 92 x 130 cm 4 Mai 2004’ On the stretcher, signed and inscribed 'soulages' Provenance: collection Essl, Klosterneuburg, Austria (acquired directly from the artist); Christie's, Paris, 23 October 2023, lot 358; private collection, Switzerland Literature: Pierre Encrevé, Soulages: l'œuvre complet, Peintures, vol. IV: 1997-2013, Paris, 2015, n° 1272, p. 148 (ill.)
Laurent Schaubroeck
Jorge Zalszupin (Warsaw 1922-2020 São Paulo) Minimalist daybed, Brazil, 1963 Jacaranda, Brazilian rosewood, upholstery H 35 x W 191 x D 80 cm Provenance: Ina Zalszupin (sister of the artist) One of only two ever produced, this exceptionally rare daybed was crafted in 1963 as a personal gift for the designer’s sister, Ina Zalszupin. Its minimalist wooden frame displays a warm patina and supports a refined off-white mattress - an extraordinary example of mid-century Brazilian modernism.
Franck Anelli Fine Art
Marcellus Coffermans (active in Antwerp, 1549-1578) Deposition of Christ, circa 1570 Oil on panel 32.7 x 21 cm Provenance: anonymous sale, Amsterdam, Christie's, 15 May 2002, lot 97 (as Marcellus Coffermans); private collection, Europe; from 2020, private collection, California Literature: M. Leeflang, Gemaakt in Antwerpen, bestemd voor Spanje? in Catharijne, Magazine van Museum Catharijneconvent Utrecht 2 (2010), p. 11, repr. Exhibition: Utrecht, Museum het Catherijneconvent, long-term loan, 2010-2020 Marcellus Coffermans deserves credit for bringing together a unique composition, the great deposition and the descent from the cross.
Mearini Fine Art
Romano Alberti (Sansepolcro, 1502-1568) known as Nero Alberti da Sansepolcro o Maestro di Magione Sora Giulia Italy, 16th century Polychrome sculpture of stucco and paper mache constructed around a wooden core H 70 cm Provenance: private collection Literature: Sculture da vestire, Nero Alberti da Sansepolcro e la produzione di manichini lignei in una bottega del cinquecento. Cat. pp 69-70 and pp. 175-176 Exhibition: Museo di Santa Croce, Umbertide (Pg), 2005
Willow Gallery
Bernard Buffet (Paris 1928-1999 Tourtour) Chevalier d'Henri III, 1998 Oil on canvas 130 x 89 cm Signed and dated This painting is sold with a photo-certificate of authenticity from the Galerie Maurice Garnier, Paris Provenance: Galerie Maurice Garnier, Paris; private collection, Germany (acquired from the above 2000); sale, Christie's London, 21 June 2012; private collection, Hong Kong Literature: Y. Le Pichon & M. Garnier, Bernard Buffet, 1982-1999, vol. III, 2007, Switzerland, n° 1261 (ill. p. 552)
Galerie Greta Meert
carla accardi
Carla Accardi (Trapani 1924-2014 Rome) Frammenti, 1984 Acrylic on canvas 50 x 60 cm Frammenti, a work from 1984, ‘Fragments’; the work affirms Carla Accardi’s place as a voice of innovation in an Italian art scene dominated by male voices. In this 50 x 60 cm painting using only black paint on the untreated material of the canvas, the artist constructs a rhythmic interplay of signs animating recognition and illegibility, an evocation of a writing that dissolves into abstraction. The work embodies the tension that characterises her oeuvre: a subtle intertwining of classical painterly discipline and the radical openness of the avant-garde, resulting in a visual language that is as rigorous and experimental as it is personal.
Van Pruissen Asian Art
nagai ikka
Nagai Ikka (Japan, 1869–1940) Pair of six-panel folding screens with crows, 1930s Ink on paper H 137 x W 268 cm (each) Signed in the bottom corner Provenance: private collection, Japan Nagai Ikka (also known by the art names Zuiunan and Hanpo) was born in 1869 in Suibara, Niigata Prefecture, during the early Meiji period. He trained under leading masters of the Maruyama and Shijō schools, including Suzuki Shōnen, Nakano Kimei, and Hirafuku Hoan, and later absorbed stylistic influences from Kawanabe Kyōsai. This grounding in careful observation and naturalistic rendering provided the foundation for a personal style that balanced precision with expressive freedom. He began painting crow paintings after helping Ernest Francisco Fenollosa create 'One Hundred Crows', a painting he had commissioned from Kyosai. The late Meiji and Taishō periods were marked by profound change in Japanese art, as artists navigated between traditional aesthetics and the growing influence of Western naturalism. Ikka embraced this dialogue, drawing on classical ink painting techniques whilst expanding his horizons abroad. From 1903 to 1908, he lived in the United States, exhibiting at international events such as the Portland Expo, where he won a silver medal, and later at the Italian Expo. His crow paintings, admired both in Japan and overseas, earned him the affectionate nickname 'Doctor of Crows' from statesman Ōkuma Shigenobu. The crow (karasu) has a long symbolic tradition in Japanese culture, appearing in classical poetry, Buddhist imagery, and Shintō cosmology, most famously as Yatagarasu, the mythical three-legged crow. Ikka revitalised this motif, transforming it from a minor decorative element into the central subject of bold, dynamic compositions. This pair of six-panel folding screens demonstrates his command of movement and atmosphere. Painted in ink with sparing touches of colour, the crows appear in varied postures—perched, in flight, or interacting—creating a rhythm that guides the viewer’s eye across the expansive surface. Bold, calligraphic brushstrokes define wings and feathers, while softer washes evoke wind, mist, and shifting light. The result is a scene that is both naturalistic and poetic, combining the restraint of traditional ink painting with a striking modern vitality. Ikka’s crows are not static symbols but living presences, conveying alertness, intelligence, and social energy. His lifelong study of corvid behavior, informed by travels across Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, and the United States, gave his work an observational depth rare among his contemporaries. At the same time, his art reflects a broader ambition: to elevate the ordinary into the emblematic, merging natural accuracy with expressive force. Today, Ikka’s crow paintings are prized by collectors and studied as important examples of Meiji-period nihonga, where fidelity to nature combines with enduring Japanese aesthetic ideals. These folding screens stand as a testament to his originality and his ability to transform a humble subject into a powerful symbol of vitality and freedom.
Florian Kolhammer
hans bolek
Hans Bolek (Vienna, 1890-1978) Jugendstil ensemble, Gentleman's study, 1913 Solid spruce wood, solid oak (armchair), swamp oak veneer Provenance: bought on 06.11.1913 by the minister of public works, Freiherr Ottokar Trnka von Laberon; private collection, Austria Literature: Interior from the winter exhibition 1913/14 at MAK; photograph of a room design by Hans Bolek, executed by August Ungethüm, Möbelfrabrik August Ungethüm, MAK Inv.nr. KI 7905-13; 'Innendekoration: mein Heim mein Stolz', Heft 25, 1914, S. 110; 'Kunst & Handwerk', Vol. 12, 1913, p. 629; 'Deutsches Volksblatt' 11. November 1913, S. 6; 'Neues Wiener Tagblatt', 22. November 1913, p. 33 / yearly report 1913 Austrian Museum of Art and Industry (ÖMKI), p. 4 Designed in 1913 by Hans Bolek, a student of Josef Hoffmann, and executed by August Ungethüm, this study was presented at the 1913/1914 Winter Exhibition of the Austrian Museum of Art and Industry and acquired on November 6th, 1913, by Baron Ottokar Trnka von Laberon. This rare Jugenstil ensemble combines elegant geometry, floral elements, and exceptional craftsmanship. The study consists of a representative desk with elegant fittings and a matching armchair made of solid oak, an impressive cabinet display case, and a stylish table display case or humidor. All the pieces of furniture, except for the chair, are made of solid spruce wood and covered with high-quality swamp oak veneer.
Carlucci Gallery
Roman Cabinat, circa 1780 Ebony veneered, marble and various polychrome stones H 208 x W 105 x D 62 cm Provenance: private collection Cabinet veneered in ebony, marble, and polychrome stones, with an architectural design. The upper section features a tympanum surmounted by Hercules holding the globe in flowering alabaster. A pierced balustrade is crowned with figures of a winged lion bearing a heraldic shield. The façade is articulated with a central door and two lateral doors, each concealing interior disappearing drawers. Materials include jasper, lapis lazuli, breccia, alabaster, and antique green marble.
Epoque Fine Jewels
rené lalique
René Lalique (Ay 1860-1945 Paris) Art Nouveau thistle necklace Paris, circa 1905 Gold, diamond, enamel and glass Signed: Lalique The piece is housed in its original case, marked ‘Lalique, Place Vendôme 24, Paris’ Provenance: private collection, France An impressive Art Nouveau gold, diamond, enamel and glass thistle flower necklace by René Lalique, consisting of six pentagonal plaques made from moulded amber-coloured glass, each adorned with two intertwined thistle flowers facing outward, topped by three yellow enamel rods. Flanking the plaques are long curved thorns, set with diamonds and accented with yellow and brown enamel. Between the thorns are small thistle flower motifs in moulded orange glass, enhanced with diamonds. This exceptional Art Nouveau choker necklace by René Lalique (circa 1905, Paris) exemplifies his revolutionary use of glass in fine jewelry. The piece features six molded amber glass plaques decorated with intertwined thistle flowers, enhanced by diamonds and yellow and brown enamel on gold. The thistle flower motif, emblem of Lorraine and the Dukes of Lorraine, symbolizes courage and protection, reflecting the regional heritage of Nancy, where the original owner was a notable social figure likely to have commissioned it directly from Lalique. Created during the period when Lalique moved his shop to 24 Place Vendôme, the necklace illustrates his transition from Art Nouveau to early Art Deco, blending naturalistic design with modern aesthetics. Its autumnal hues, sunlit enamel details, and radiant diamonds evoke both poetic beauty and symbolic depth. Lalique drew inspiration from wild flora rather than cultivated blooms, favoring authenticity and imperfection as expressions of nature’s truth. This necklace, long preserved in a French private collection and once known only through drawings (including one published by Sigrid Barten), is a rare surviving example of Lalique’s innovation. It demonstrates his mastery in merging craftsmanship, symbolism, and modernity, affirming his reputation as the “inventor of modern jewelry.”
