COLOGNE.- Sotheby's Germany celebrates the autumn art season with two curated auctions organised from Palais Oppenheim in Cologne.

"In November, all eyes are on Cologne. The 56th edition of ART Cologne presents modern and contemporary art. At the same time, the auctions in this year's Sotheby's winter season in Cologne will be promising. Our main auction, Modern & Contemporary Auction, will mark the start of the season and will attract global interest due to the wide range of renowned national and international art. For collectors, both established and new, the auction of 59 lots provides some outstanding works in the field of modern and contemporary art, 90% of which are coming to the market for the first time and most of them from private collections.

Many of these works tell their own story, both art-historically and through their provenance, including the top lots of the auction, two colourful works by Emil Nolde - Dorf Cospeda (Village Cospeda) and Glückliche Familie (Happy Family) - both of which are from the artist's family. Admirers of geometric abstractions may be attracted by the work of Josef Albers - an hommage to the square - which was also owned by the artist's family until 1976 and then changed hands into an private collection of Plogsties, North Rhine-Westphalia,“, says Eva Donnerhack, Director, Specialist Impressionist, Modern & Contemporary Art, Head of Fine Art Sales, Germany, and continues:

"In preparation for the winter auctions, my team and I have re-enjoyed the intensive collaboration with some important collections. It is therefore an honour to be able to offer the collection named Figuration to Abstraction: Expressions of the 20th Century, in a dedicated sale. The works in this collection present the creative output of a century - colourful, expressive and enigmatic. It invites you to discover familiar and new art: paintings, works on paper, photographs, prints and sculptures by well-known artists such as Walter Dexel, Lyonel Feininger, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Heinz Mack, Thomas Schütte and artists such as Ida Kerkovius, Norbert Kricke, Herbert Brandl, Abraham David Christian, Fred Thieler and Walter Stöhrer. To coincide with the start of the auctions, highlights will be exhibited at Palais Oppenheim and the works will be presented in guided tours as part of a series of events.“

The main auction of Sotheby's Germany's winter season will feature works by nationally and internationally renowned artists ranging from modernism to contemporary art.




Part of the exquisite selection and highlights of this auction are two paintings by the Brücke artist Emil Nolde. These are accompanied by works by the Expressionists Karl Schmidt-Rottluff (estimate: €30,000-50,000) and Christian Rohlfs as well as an enchanting garden view by the German Impressionist Max Liebermann (pictured left). Furthermore, works by the American artists Robert Rauschenberg (estimate: €150,000-200,000), Sam Francis (estimate: €180,000-220,000), Roy Lichtenstein (estimate: €70,000-100,000) and Tom Wesselmann (estimate: €100,000-150,000) can also be discovered. In addition, early examples by ZERO founders Otto Piene (estimate: €120,000-180,000) and Heinz Mack (estimate: €80,000-120,000) in the company of fellow artist Adolf Luther (estimate: €24,000-35,000) and Bauhaus icons Josef Albers (see previous page) and Oskar Schlemmer (estimate: €80,000-120,000) and his close friend Willi Baumeister (estimate: €350,000-450,000).

Sotheeby's Germany will also offer works by A.R. Penck (estimate: €200,000 - 300,000), Albert Oehlen (estimate: €55,000-75,000) and Sigmar Polke (estimate: €40,000-60,000). The auction will be complemented by works from the female artists Katharina Grosse (estimate: €100,000-150,000), who is known for her bold spray paintings, and Miriam Cahn (estimate: €30,000-50,000), whose intimate and often ambiguously figurative paintings have gained great recognition among collectors.

The 59 lots offered in the Modern & Contemporary Auction, of which 90% are being auctioned for the first time, have a pre-sale-estimate of €5 million and €7 million.

Figuration to Abstraction: Expressions of the 20th Century

In addition, Sotheby's Germany is presenting the auction Figuration to Abstraction: Expressions of the 20th Century at the same time. The works come from a distinguished collection in Europe. This selection of works brings together a century of creativity that embodies the most expressive brushstrokes and the most enigmatic forms. Each lot in this sale is a celebration of bold colour and elusive form, offering limitless interpretation and unlocking the hidden meanings of the 20th century. The age of abstract art meets the figurative, an era of pure fantasy and individual freedom that merges with profound symbolism. These two special artistic worlds can be discovered on canvases, in works on paper, photographs and sculptures with works by well-known artists such as Walter Dexel, Lyonel Feininger, Karl Schmidt-Rottluff, Heinz Mack, Horst Antes and Thomas Schütte, which are wonderfully combined with works by Ida Kerkovius and Abraham David Christian and many more.

From the 174 lots, 25 lots will be auctioned in the Modern & Contemporary Auction and a further 149 in the Figuration to Abstraction: Expressions of the 20th Century auction. This offering, which comes to auction for the first time, has a pre-sale-estimate of €3,200,000-4,600,000.