PARIS.- The Post War and Contemporary art live and online sales achieved a combined total of €19,373,500, doubling the global pre-sale estimate with sell through rates of 97% by value for the live sale and 100% for the online sale.

Leading the sale on 3rd December was the superb painting La Sombreuse, by Jean Paul Riopelle, which was offered at auction for the first time. Exceptional in its size and ambition, this major canvas offered a dazzling symphony of colors and was acquired for €3,740,000. Christie’s holds the artist world record at auction since 2017. This strong result is a nice tribute paid to the artist, while the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec (MNBAQ) announced the creation of a pavilion dedicated to Riopelle’s work to be open to the public by 2025.

Other highlights of the sale included Peinture 165 x 130 cm, 13 March 2006, an emblematic example of the Outrenoir series by Pierre Soulages which achieved €1,460,000. This is the third work of the artist the department offered in 2021 and the results demonstrate the strength of the market for the artist, notably after both works last June, Peinture 162 x 114 cm, 17 avril 1972 sold for €2,060,000 and during the Paris Avant-Garde sale, Peinture 222 x 222 cm, 25 mars 1990, sold for €2,480,000.

A number of works in the sale doubled their pre-sale estimates, such as, Sans titre (RF12) by Martin Baré which sold for €287,500, estimated at €80,000-120,000, as well a magnificent and abstract painting by Alighiero Boetti entitled Piano Inclinato realizing €312,500 selling three times its pre-sale estimate of €100,000-150,000. In the online sale, a painting by Gérard Schneider sold €275,000, 10 times its pre-sale estimate.

Finally, fashion drawings achieved outstanding acclaim, including a group of 12 colourfull sketches by Yves Saint Laurent offered across the live and online sales, each estimated at around €5,000, they realised a combined total of €478,125. Competitive bidding in the saleroom in Paris as well as online delivered above estimate results for all of the Yves Saint Laurent works. Two drawings by another famous fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, were each acquired for €52,500 against individual pre-sale estimate of €800-1,200.

Etienne Sallon and Joséphine Wanecq, Head of Sales: “With nearly 100% of lots sold by value and 22% of new buyers, the results demonstrate the recognised expertise of our teams offering high quality and works sought after by collectors, including key artists of the XX-XXIst century, such as Pierre Soulages, Jean Paul Riopelle, Lucio Fontana while giving a new sight on the market of contemporary artists such as Alioune Diagne who’s painting Le Drageur was acquired for €100,000, tripling its estimate, as well a work by Jean Degottex, Suite rose-noir (XV) fetching €137,500, estimated at €15,000-20,000.”