PARIS.- Sotheby's is set to inaugurate its new Paris headquarters in October with a major auction event titled Surrealism & Its Legacy. This sale will feature iconic works from renowned surrealist artists, including pieces that once belonged to celebrities such as Elton John and Elizabeth Arden.
Highlighted Works: Magritte and Iconic Female Surrealists
Among the stars of the auction is a 1947 oil painting by René Magritte titled La leçon de choses, estimated between €3,500,000 and €4,500,000. This piece, once owned by Elton John, comes from a prestigious American collection. Additionally, a rare gouache by Magritte, L'Incendie, with an estimate of €3,000,000 to €5,000,000, will be offered. This artwork hails from the collection of Elizabeth Arden, the trailblazing American cosmetics pioneer.
Female surrealist artists will also receive special recognition in this auction, featuring works by Leonor Fini, Kay Sage, Dorothea Tanning, Juanita Guccione, and Jane Graverol. Kay Sage’s Other Answers (1945), an oil painting known for its surreal and enigmatic landscapes, is expected to attract attention, with estimates ranging from €300,000 to €500,000.
Celebrating Surrealism’s Legacy
As the surrealist movement celebrates its 100th anniversary, Sotheby’s Paris is hosting its third annual auction dedicated to this influential art form. This event coincides with a major surrealism exhibition at the Centre Pompidou and is part of the Paris Sales series, in partnership with the French fashion house CELINE. Thomas Bompard, Vice President of Sotheby's France, emphasized the movement’s enduring relevance:
"Even 100 years after the publication of its manifesto by André Breton, Surrealism continues to feel ever-renewed: forgotten artists are being rediscovered, especially female artists, and contemporary creations are still inspired by surrealist aesthetics. The beauty and power of its most iconic works remain intact, as showcased in the recent Centre Pompidou exhibition and soon to be seen in our new Paris offices starting October 12."
Unique Collections: Joan Miró and Historic Artworks
The sale will also present two significant private collections, including pieces by Joan Miró from the Memoria collection. This selection includes two oils, one from 1932 and another post-war piece, which revisits the surrealist exquisite corpse technique, alongside two sculptures. These works reflect the refined taste of the collectors behind the Memoria collection.
Another highlight is a collection of three gouaches by René Magritte, André Masson, and Diego Rivera, originally created for the covers of Minotaure, a renowned surrealist magazine published between 1933 and 1939. These works, preserved in the personal collection of Albert Skira, the magazine’s founder, are appearing on the market for the first time. The gouache that Magritte designed for the cover of Minotaure’s 10th issue in 1937, praised as a "pure masterpiece" by poet Paul Éluard, is expected to fetch between €1,000,000 and €1,500,000.
A Historic Opportunity for Collectors
Sotheby's auction will provide collectors with a rare chance to acquire exceptional works by surrealism’s leading figures, including the 1939 masterpiece Personnage by Man Ray. This work, valued at €1,000,000 to €1,500,000, has been displayed in major museums worldwide and returns to auction for the first time since 1991. Additionally, the sale includes Apollo by Francis Picabia, one of the transparencies commissioned by dealer Léonce Rosenberg, estimated at €700,000 to €1,000,000.
Following the Surrealism & Its Legacy sale, a mobile by Alexander Calder, previously owned by Hollywood legends Billy Wilder and Sharon Stone, will be auctioned as part of the Modernités sale.
