Warhol, Lichtenstein Dominate
New York’s Print Week, which included the fall sales of editioned works on paper and multiples at the major auction houses early last week and at the International Fine Print Dealers Association’s annual fair over the weekend, featured new records and high visibility for artists associated with the East End.
On Oct. 23, “Campbell’s Soup I,” a complete set of 10 Andy Warhol “Soup Can” screenprints from 1968, broke a record for any set of that subject, selling for $850,000, well above its estimate of $500,000 to $700,000, to a British art dealer at Sotheby’s. On Oct. 24, at Christie’s, a set of 10 Warhol “Flowers” screenprints went for $852,000. A full set of six “Dollar Sign” Warhol prints sold at Christie’s for $324,500.
Another Warhol portfolio of “Soup Can” prints, “Campbell’s Soup II” from 1969, was auctioned at Christie’s but was broken up into single lots. These sold in a range from $16,250 for “Tomato-Beef Noodle O’s” to $37,500 for the more iconic varieties such as “Scotch Broth” and “Chicken ’N’ Dumplings.” The prints were from the estate of Giuseppe Rossi, the surgeon who saved Warhol’s life after Valerie Solanos entered his studio and shot him through the lungs, esophagus, spleen, liver, and abdomen in 1968. The artist was pronounced dead at the hospital, but the doctor revived him after massaging his heart and removing his spleen and part of his lung in what has been considered a miraculous effort. Warhol gave Dr. Rossi the portfolio along with other prints as a token of his gratitude, and the two remained friends long after his recovery.
Single Warhol prints also led auction sales, with a “Marilyn” selling above its $220,000 estimate at $287,500 at Sotheby’s and a “Moonwalk” selling for $212,500 at Christie’s.
Roy Lichtenstein’s “Nudes” series was also popular last week. “Nude With Blue Hair” sold for $552,500 at Christie’s, and a “Nude With Yellow Pillow” relief print broke a record for this subject, selling for $250,000 at Sotheby’s.
The print fair opened to the public last Thursday in its new location at the Javits Center’s River Pavilion. Some of the East End artists with work on view were Vija Celmins, John Chamberlain, Chuck Close, Willem de Kooning, Max Ernst, Childe Hassam, Joan Mitchell, Robert Motherwell, Enoc Perez, Elizabeth Peyton, Dan Rizzie, James Rosenquist, Richard Serra, Billy Sullivan, and Donald Sultan, along with more Lichtensteins and Warhols. Tara Donovan, who recently had a “Platform” exhibition at the Parrish Art Museum, was featured at the Tamarind Institute’s booth with a grouping of her index card matrix prints.