Remarkable results
Remarkable results in our October 21 auction
Last Saturday, more than 600 lots went under the hammer at De Vuyst Gallery. The auction included paintings, sculptures, drawings and much more: all exceptional works of art that charmed Belgian and international collectors. No fewer than six results exceeded the total amount of €100,000: €375,000 was recorded for James Ensor, €325,000 for Rik Wouters and €137,000 for Tom Wesselmann.
James Ensor - "Ecce homo (Le Christ insulté)" (1890)
Around 1900
There was a high-end selection of Belgian masterpieces from the period around 1900. Museum worthy paintings attracted the attention of determined bidders. Like a Parisian grandmaster, Henri Evenepoel brought the elegant vibe of the fin-de-siècle to canvas in “Women in a Café” (ca. 1896). This important artwork fetched €112,500.
“Ecce homo (Le Christ insulté)” (1890) was a true gem by James Ensor in which he combines a remarkable theme with an original formal scheme unseen at the time. The panel achieved a total price of €375,000. The colored pencil drawing “Napoleon” (1910-1920) achieved €50,000, and the handcoloured etching “My portrait as a skeleton” (1889) achieved €35,000.
One of the most remarkable paintings in this auction was “Breakfast, white roses” (1910-1911) by Rik Wouters. The painter manages to elevate such a simple scene to a sublime impression. This beautiful work achieved a total price of €325,000.
Léon De Smet - "Dressing" (1926-1927)
Art deco
The painting “Dressing” (1926-1927) proves that Léon De Smet's expressionist escapade was a success. During a short but underexposed period in his career, the artist ventured down the modernist path. This unique work fetched €118,400.
There was great interest in “Mélancolie” (1921), a delicate composition in watercolor and pastel by Anto-Carte. As a result, it reached €83,700. “Mother and Child - Longing for Peace” (ca. 1936) was an important sandstone sculpture by George Minne, which achieved an impessive result of €61,440.
Ossip Zadkine made his own particular interpretation of the classic standing silhouette. “Le messager” (1937) is an important sculpture in bronze that attracted worldwide attention before and during the auction. There was a lot of bidding for this item: in the saleroom, on the telephones and via the online bidding platform. In the end, the remarkable result of €124,940 was achieved.
Tom Wesselmann - “Big Study From Still Life with Lichtenstein, Teapot and Bird” (1997)
International names
The catalog included a wide range of International artists who appealed to our collectors. The sculpture “Maquette IV Winged Figures” (1968) is executed in the unmistakable formal language of the British sculptor Lynn Chadwick. €66,000 was quoted for this wonderful item.
Two iconic Pop Art works by the American Tom Wesselmann went under the hammer. The strikingly colorful works are a feast for the eyes. “Big Study From Still Life with Lichtenstein, Teapot and Bird” (1997) fetched €137,500, and “Study For Gina's Hand” (1981) reached €75,000.
“Wrapped Reichtag” (1977) by the Bulgarian born architect Christo achieved no less than €61,920. There were several sculptures by the French sculptor Jean-Michel Folon. For example “Le chemin” (2005) reached €66,000, and “Les amis” (2005) reached €58,080.
(*All results listed are including sales costs)