PARIS.- On December 7 and 8, Artcurial will hold its traditional prestigious Post-War and Contemporary Art auction. Offering a large panorama of Post-War art, the auction will be divided into sections, each tracing the key periods marking artistic creation during these prolific years.

"The sale will present several historical pieces including symbolic early works by major artists such as Warhol, Indiana, Jim Dine, Niki de Saint-Phalle, César, Arman and also Simon Hantaï, each of whom have marked history.” explain Hugues Sébilleau and Karim Hoss, specialists at Artcurial.

LYRICAL ABSTRACTION
This iconic painting by Zao Wou-Ki, 14.05.62 dominates the key section dedicated to lyrical abstraction. Dating back to 1962, the work from a European collection is estimated at 1 400 000 - 2 400 000 € / 1 500 000 $ - 2 560 000,$, it illustrates the symbiosis between the East and the West, something which is key to the artist’s work as he is was born in China and lived in France.

The deep tones of red which strike the canvas, pay tribute to the domination of communism and also light and prosperity, symbols of what the colour signifies in ancient China.

The work, 30.1.76 also by Zao Wou-Ki was a gift from the artist to a Chinese lady, Song Huai Kuai and Bulgarian, Maryn Varbanov as they were the first mixed couple to get married in China in 1956. The work is estimated today at 550 000 - 650 000 € / 590 000 $ - 690 000 $.

After discovering the work of Nicolas de Staël, Chu Teh Chun became fascinated by the freedom of expression in abstract painting and began carrying out his own abstract research. Eloignement jaune, 1989, is a fine example of this and is estimated at 120 000 - 180 000 € / 128 000 $ - 190 000 $.

Two ‘compositions’ from around 1950 by French artist, Georges Mathieu will be on sale and are representative of the artist’s nervous, almost jumpy style and sharp sense of materials. Both works are estimated at 80 000-120 000 € / 85 000 – 127 000 $.

THE NEW REALISTS
A major work by Niki de Saint-Phalle dominates the section dedicated to the New Realists. Nana danseuse noire, circa 1968, is a renowned piece which was exhibited at the Grand Palais in Paris during the retrospective of the artist on show up until February 2015 (estimate: 600 000 – 800 000 € / 640 000 - 850 000 $). As a true rebel, Niki shook up the art world which was seen as being racist and misogynistic at the time and with this militant sculpture, shows a dancing, curvaceous black lady in a masculine monumental statue environment.

Before publically decorating the Pont Neuf and the Reichstag, the artist, Christo wrapped up daily objects and condemned them to eternal captivity. The work, Wrapped magazines & wrapped cloth, 1967 is estimated at 180 000 - 200 000 € / 192 000 – 213 000 $.

César follows on nicely with Compression murale from 1976, a stunning example of the radical side of the French artist who reinvented the creation process by associating it with an act of destruction. (Estimate: 100 000 – 150 000 € / 107 000 – 160 000 $).

Finally Arman will conclude this part of the auction with Vue aérienne or Tranches de vie, a cross-section of violins dating back to 1962, the very beginning of the New Realist period and is estimated at 60 000 – 70 000 € / 64 000 – 75 000 $.

POP ART
Pop Art will be on show with a stunning and large sequence of works by Andy Warhol and George Segal, Robert Rauschenberg, Tom Wesselmann, Robert Indiana and Jim Dine.

Andy Warhol, who is currently exhibited at the Musée d'Art moderne de la ville de Paris, was one of the first to use the screen-printing techniques in an artistic manner. Self-portrait, 1964, screen print on tracing paper is estimated at 350 000 - 450 000 € / 370 000 – 480 000 $. The precision of the image print leads one to believe that this was among one of the initial print trials.

Sans titre de 1973 is a fine example of Robert Rauschenberg’s transfer drawings which he developed from 1958 and continued to work on throughout the 1970’s. The artist mixes transfer images with collages or crayon drawings. (Estimate: 100 000 -150 000 € / 107 000 – 160 000$).

Tom Wesselmann made a name for himself with his Still Life series. This auction will present, Study for still life, from 1972 (estimate: 70 000 - 80 000 € / 75 000 – 85 000 $) and Multiple study for bedroom painting #32, 1971, (estimate: 80 000 - 120 000 € / 85 000 – 127 000 $).

A legendary figure thanks to his Love series, Robert Indiana is represented with his piece Love (Red), designed in 1966 and created from painted aluminium in 2000, (estimate: 750 000 - 850 000 € / 800 000 – 850 000$), as well as a canvas from 1965, called Six, from the number series linked to key events from the artist’s life, offered for sale for 250 000 - 350 000 € / 267 000 – 373 000 $.

It is worth noting the presence of George Segal, whose work, Nude on couch, 1985, plaster sculptured directly onto the model is estimated at: 150 000 - 200 000 € / 160 000 – 213 000 $).

Heavily influenced by Pop art, the work of Jim Dine is recognised around the world. He is known as a true experimenter and as an artist responsible for his personal iconography. Two works will be presented at the auction, Running Self Portrait (L.L.Bean), from 1964, is part of his symbolic dressing gown series (estimate: 100 000-150 000 € / 107 000 – 160 000 $), and also John Cage, from 1961, which echoes the artist’s utter admiration for the musician’s radical approach (estimate: 80 000 – 120 000 € / 85 000 – 127 000 $).

Finally, the diversity of the work produced by Simon Hantaï, will be represented by three pieces symbolic of various stages of his artistic career. Sans titre, 1951, is a fine example of the presence of abstraction within his surrealist period (estimate: 18 000 – 25 000 € / 19 200 – 27 000 $). Sans titre, 1953, is a beautiful illustration of the experimental element which punctuated years of research with collages next to raw material (estimate: 18 000 – 25 000 € / 19 200 – 27 000 $). One can already see how the artist plays around with forms to result in his famous ‘folds’. Last but not least, the piece entitled, Etude, 1969, is characteristic of Hantai’s folding technique and is estimated at 150 000 - 200 000 € / 160 000 – 213 000 $).