Degas, Lichtenstein to lead Christie’s 2011 fall auctions

Edgar Degas (1834-1917)
Petite danseuse de quatorze ans
Estimate: $25,000,000-35,000,000

Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997)
I Can See the Whole Room…and There’s Nobody in It
Painted in 1961.
Estimate: $35,000,000- $45,000,000

Degas, Lichtenstein to lead Christie’s 2011 fall auctions Edgar Degas and Roy Lichtenstein will be the protagonists of the 2011 fall auction season at Christie’s. On November 1, Edgar Degas’ ‘Petite danseuse de quatorze ans’ will lead the Impressionist and Modern Art Sale, and on November 8 the Post-War and Contemporary Sale will be highlighted by Roy Lichtenstein ‘I Can See the Whole Room…and There’s Nobody in It’]]>

October 26, 2011, source: Christie’s / theartwolf.com

Edgar Degas’ “Petite danseuse de quatorze ans” is described by the auction house as “the most celebrated sculpture to have emerged from the Impressionist era”. Degas exhibited this creation only on that one occasion during his life, and -following the artist’s death in 1917- 28 examples of the “Petite danseuse” were made between 1921 and 1938. Only 10 remain in private hands, including the example to be offered the next week.

On February 2009, another example of the “Petite danseuse” was sold at Sotheby’s London for £13,2 million. This time, the work is estimated at $25 – 35 million.

At the same auction, Christie’s will offer two important works by Pablo Picasso: “Femme endormie” -a sensual work created in 1935- and “Tête de femme au chapeau mauve”, painted in 1939. Each one carries an estimation of $12 – 18 million.

On November 8, the Post-War and Contemporary Sale will be highlighted by an early masterpiece by Roy Lichtenstein. “I Can See the Whole Room…and There’s Nobody in It” was created in 1961, the same year as Lichtenstein’s first true comic-strip painting, “Look Mickey”. Its importance is reflected in its pre-sale estimate of $35 – 45 million. A comparable work by Lichtenstein, “Ohhh…Alright” (1964) was sold one year ago for $42.6 million.

At the same auction, Andy Warhol’s “Silver Liz” is estimated at $16-18 million, and Gerhard Richter’s “Frau Niepenberg” at $7 – 10 million.

Related content

Lichtenstein’s ‘Ohhh…Alright’ sells for $42.6 million (November 2010)
Sotheby’s To Sell Petite danseuse de quatorze ans (February 2009)