Tag: photography

  • Prints, Photography and Multiples with Perry Tung

    Looking through the Prints, Photography and Multiples auction, we see excellent works by the masters of the 20th Century, including Picasso, Motherwell, Dali, Albers and Chagall. But there are two exceptionally rare prints that are wonderful examples of the difference between an etching and an engraving.

    River Drifters (River Drivers) by Frank Weston Benson

    The first is entitled Rivers Drifters (Drivers) by Frank Weston Benson, who was already an accomplished painter when he took up printmaking. Benson was a member of a group, who became known as The Ten American Painters. They were an exhibition group that included Impressionists, Tonalists and Figure painters, such as Childe Hassam and John Henry Twatchman. William Merritt Chase would join the group later upon the death of Twachtman.  Benson was exhibiting with the group when he took up etching recreationally in the early part of the 20th Century. He would have great success exhibiting and selling his work in this medium. His usual subject matter of choice was wildlife or sporting subjects.

    However, in River Drifters (Drivers) from 1914, no wildlife is present, instead he has focused attention on two loggers working along the Grand Lake Stream in Washington County. Especially wonderful is the small detail of the pipe in the standing figure’s mouth. This is a fantastic example of the etching technique, where the lines have been burned (etched) onto the plate using a chemical process, having been coated in a substance that is acid resistant called the etching ground. The image is then drawn through the ground to reveal the plate below, which is then bathed in acid etching the plate. When compared to etching, engraving is a much more physical process, where lines are carved into the plate using sharp tools producing a cleaner more pronounced line.

    Three Girls on a Chicken (Sasowsky 214) by Reginald Marsh

    Reginald Marsh studied under John Sloan at the Art Students League in New York. His subject matter were the people of New York, whether at play on Coney Island, dancing at a night club, riding the subway or just walking the street. Here is another American artist who took printmaking to a new level. Not only was he concerned with the finished product, but he was also obsessed with how he arrived there. Part of his process was making sure the temperature in his studio was just right for printmaking. Marsh was also aware of the age of the bath that his plates were soaked in, recording how long the paper soaked, observing the heating of the plate and the nature of the ink used in printing. Three Girls on a Chicken is from 1941, from an edition of approximately only twenty and is an extremely scarce engraving presenting Marsh at his finest.

    Perry Tung viewing the offerings of this month’s online auction

    Cowley Abbott is delighted to offer these rare works in our Prints, Photography and Multiples Auction currently open for bidding until April 19th.

  • An Exciting Selection of Prints, Photography & Multiples begins the Fall Auction Season

    The Prints, Photography and Multiples auction has been an extremely enjoyable sale to put together.  We started to curate the sale just after the close of the International Art auction in June and one of the early consignments was Brice Marden’s Ten Days Portfolio (lot 27). The eight etchings and aquatints in this portfolio were inspired by Marden’s travels in Greece.  Often described as a minimalist, these have the same characteristics of his larger works: rectangular formats and a subdued palette, only here on a more intimate level. The provenance is excellent, having been purchased in Toronto and remaining in the same private collection.

    Ten Days (Portfolio of 8) (Lewison 20) by Brice Marden
    Auction Estimate: $60,000-80,000h

    Our Senior International Art Specialist had the privilege of spending the afternoon with Christo and Jeanne-Claude in their studio in New York just after The Gates Project in Central Park had been realized in 2005. You realize the amount of work that goes into Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s projects, as some of the projects are not realized for several years.  When we got an email with images of the lithograph, Arc de Triompe Wrapped (A Project for Paris), we were very excited about having this work consigned. This is from the publisher’s edition of 20. Arc de Triompe Wrapped (A Project for Paris) was issued in an edition of 150 (lot 44). It is even more meaningful as the project is finally being realized in Paris.  From September 18 to October 3rd the Arc De Triomphe will be wrapped.  Here is the link for the live stream on their website.

    Arc De Triomphe Wrapped (Project for Paris) (Schellman 144) by Christo and Jeanne-Claude
    Auction Estimate: $12,000-16,000

    There is a fantastic selection of photography in the sale, including the iconic portrait of Winston Churchill by Yosuf Karsh (lot 64), an interesting series by Yuri Dojc titled the Last Folio (lot 7), which documents the preserved history in a school in Slovakia before World War II, as well as wonderful portraits by Arnold Newman of Pablo Picasso (lot 20), Georgia O’Keefe (lot 19) and Max Ernst (lot 18). The Max Ernst portrait is remarkable. The story behind the work, is that Ernst was drawing a lot of birds at this point in his career and when he saw the portrait, he was very excited, as just beside his face the plumes of smoke suggest the image of a bird.

    Winston Churchill by Yousuf Karsh
    Auction Estimate: $8,000-10,000
    The Last Folio Series (8) by Yuri Dojc
    Auction Estimate: $6,000-8,000
    Pablo Picasso, Vallauris, France by Arnold Newman
    Auction Estimate: $2,000-3,000
    Georgia O’Keefe, Outside of Ghost Ranch by Arnold Newman
    Auction Estimate: $2,000-3,000
    Max Ernst by Arnold Newman
    Auction Estimate: $800-1,200

    There are three very special lots that begin the auction, introducing our partnership with Casey House, a hospital in Toronto which specializes in HIV/AIDS care. American photographer Cara Barer starts the auction with a striking work entitled, Heart (lot 1). Characteristic of her manipulation of books into sculptural objects, this work attracted lots of interest as the previews commenced. Vancouver artist Damian Moppett’s playful image of pieces of Lego and a balloon constructs an interesting juxtaposition between the hard and soft qualities of these objects (lot 2). David Burdeny’s striking image, Sweepers, West Lake, Hangzhou China continues his exploration of Asia and its landscape (lot 3).

    Heart by Cara Barer
    Auction Estimate: $800-1,200
    Untitled (B&W Lego Pcs-Rubber Band) by Damian Moppett
    Auction Estimate: $1,000-1,500
    Sweepers, West Lake, Hangzhou, China by David Burdeny
    Auction Estimate: $1,500-2,000

    We are extremely pleased to partner with Casey House in offering these lots. All proceeds from their sale will benefit Casey House Ontario’s HIV/Aids Hospital. We hope there will be many more donations of fine art that we will be able to offer through our sales. As well, we very much look forward to hosting the Art with Heart Preview for Casey House this year and broadcasting the auction live from the Cowley Abbott gallery on Tuesday, October 19th.

  • Demystifying the Art Auction: Advice for Aspiring Collectors

    Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, Lanterns

    With 262 lots in our March Online Auction of Canadian and International Art, we see artwork for sale with a very large range in value. Although the covetable A.J. Casson and Albert Henry Robinson oil paintings garner much attention from seasoned collectors, it is worth noting the remarkable value and quality of the many more modestly priced artworks for sale. While estimates range from $50 to $15,000, there can be a tendency to believe that only the high-profile items are relevant and worthy of attention within the art market. There is also a misconception that art auctions do not offer anything affordable to begin with. The reality is that art of good quality and value can be found at any price, and an art auction can be the ideal place to find it.

    If you have an interest in starting an art collection, an auction is a perfect place to do so and should not be intimidating. The quality and value of the lower estimated artworks can be far superior to something of the same price at a commercial gallery or retail store. I have compiled a selection of nine noteworthy artworks from our March online auction, in a variety of styles and mediums, each of which are estimated to sell for below $1000. As a young professional in the art world, I would like to demonstrate that it can be accessible to all, regardless of one’s budget. The concept of building an art collection does not have to be so far out of reach.

    A few things to keep in mind: The estimate is our prediction of the selling price based on previous sales of similar works at auction – however, it is possible for the work to sell for below or above the estimate. Also note that a buyer’s premium of 15% and applicable taxes are added to the final selling price of an artwork. All of the following artworks are framed, avoiding any extra costs and making it easy to instantly hang up on a wall.

     

    Conyers Barker, Toronto Skyline

    Lot #30
    Ernest C. Barker
    Toronto Skyline
    oil on board
    signed and dated ‘28 lower left; signed, titled and dated 1928 on the reverse
    8.5 x 10.5 ins ( 21.6 x 26.7 cms )
    Estimated: $300.00 – $500.00
    For the Toronto native or admirer of architectural history, this original oil painting illustrates a very early view of Toronto’s skyline – dating to 1928. The semi-abstract composition in mint green and lavender provides a rare depiction of Toronto from a past time.

     

    Ghitta Caiserman-Roth, LanternsLot #90
    Ghitta Caiserman-Roth
    Lanterns
    oil and gouache on masonite
    signed and dated 50 lower right
    22 x 54 ins ( 55.9 x 137.2 cms )
    Estimated: $500.00 – $700.00
    For the year 1950, the artwork has a very contemporary aesthetic to it, in the quasi-abstract lanterns and moody colour scheme. A Montreal native, Caiserman-Roth studied at the Parsons School of Design and Art Student League in New York, as well as the Musee des Beaux Arts in Montreal.

     

    A.J. Casson, Oriental PoppiesLot #132
    A.J. Casson
    Oriental Poppies
    linocut
    signed, numbered 27/30 and dated 1986 in the lower margin
    7 x 7.5 ins ( 17.8 x 19.1 cms ) ( subject )
    Estimated: $400.00 – $600.00
    Casson was a prominent member of the renowned group of Seven, the most internationally recognized association of Canadian artists. While his oil Sombre Day, Lake of Bays is the highest valued artwork in the March auction, the prolific artist produced numerous prints which sell for a more modest price. The brightly coloured flowers of this linocut has a fresh, modern palette and Pop Art quality to it.

     

     

    W. Kurelek, The SlamLot #143
    William Kurelek
    The Slam
    colour lithograph
    signed within plate; signed and numbered 96/225 in the lower margin
    12 x 9.5 ins ( 30.5 x 24.1 cms ) ( subject )
    Estimated: $400.00 – $600.00
    For the sports fan, Kurelek’s lithograph is a playful, whimsical rendition of a mixed-doubles tennis match. A very popular artist whose original works sell for high prices, Kurelek’s prints are still very much in demand, though at a much more affordable price range.

     

     

     

     

    N. Morrisseau, Shaman Astral Guide IILot #161
    Norval Morrisseau
    Shaman Astral Guide II
    colour serigraph
    signed, titled and numbered 91/220 in the lower margin
    29 x 13 ins ( 73.7 x 33 cms )
    Estimated: $300.00 – $400.00
    A self-taught painter, printmaker, and illustrator, Morrisseau’s colourful images depicting First Nations subjects were initially criticized in the Native community for its disclosure of traditional spiritual knowledge. Morrisseau came to develop a very strong reputation, completing many commissions including the Indians of Canada Pavilion at Expo 67. This large serigraph offers a very colourful addition to a room, along with carrying cultural significance.

     

     

     

    J. Hinton, Brooklyn Bridge DoubleLot #172
    Jane Hinton
    Brooklyn Bridge Double (1994-99)
    silver print
    edition 1/10
    14 x 40 ins ( 35.6 x 101.6 cms )
    Estimated: $400.00 – $600.00
    A contemporary Toronto photographer, Hinton has exhibited internationally and her work is found in numerous collections around the world. The artist is particularly fascinated by bridges, with Brooklyn Bridge Double (1994-99) being an example. Hinton’s work is currently for sale at an art gallery at much higher prices.

     

    E. Bartram, Island Cove, Georgian BayLot #174
    Ed Bartram
    Island Cove, Georgian Bay
    etching with hand colouring
    signed, titled, dated 1998 and inscribed VE 1/10 in the margin
    25.5 x 31 ins ( 64.8 x 78.7 cms )
    Estimated: $500.00 – $700.00
    Ed Bartram provides a very contemporary take on the Group of Seven’s favourite subject: Georgian Bay. The large size, brand-new frame and jewel-toned blues make this etching an eye-catching addition to any room and art collection.

     

     

    F. Armington, Monte CarloLot #201
    Frank Armington
    Monte Carlo
    watercolour
    signed lower right, titled and dated 1919 lower left
    15.5 x 12.25 ins ( 39.4 x 31.1 cms ) ( sight )
    Estimated: $600.00 – $800.00
    Armington is a Canadian born and raised artist, although the majority of his work depicts European scenery. Based in Paris from 1905 to 1939, the artist portrayed French urban and rural landscapes in a variety of mediums, including etchings, lithographs and watercolours.

     

     

     

     

    K. Saito, Girl With CatLot #217
    Kiyoshi Saito
    Girl with Cat
    block print
    signed in lower margin
    5 x 7.25 ins ( 12.7 x 18.4 cms ) ( subject )
    Estimated: $300.00 – $400.00
    This adorable woodblock print seems to speak for itself. Saito was one of the first Japanese printmakers to have won at the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1951.