MUNICH.- Kandinsky, Pechstein and Uecker are true masters of their trades. They, as well as many other acclaimed artist colleagues are represented with choice masterpieces in the auctions at Ketterer Kunst in Munich from 9 to 11 June.

Modern Art
This section is led by Wassily Kandinsky's strictly geometric composition “Kleines Warm“, estimated at at € 400,000-600,000. It is one of the works on paper from the 1920s, which are particularly sought-after on the international auction market. The small-size watercolor with India ink is especially captivating for its defined color fields and its orderly chaos, a characteristic feature that also impacted decorative commercial art in the 1920s.

Max Pechstein, on contrary, felt attracted by nature after World War I was over. He sought to quench his longing for a free and easy existence, just as he had felt it in the South Seas before the war, at the coast of the Curonian Spit. His oil painting “Stürmisches Wetter an der Ostsee“ from 1919, which will enter the race with an estimate of € 350,000-450,000, is an expressive document of this nostalgia and is part of his important series of Baltic landscapes. Additionally, around a dozen other works by Pechstein will be called up, among them his watercolor “Abschied am Abend“ (estimate: € 120,000-150,000) from 1950. It is also a reminiscence of his journey to the South Seas.

Alexej von Jawlensky's splendid “Sonnenuntergang“ was made in 1928. The artist was quite taken with the light's unusual abundance of colors at sunset, accordingly, he adds an almost magical atmosphere to this landscape. The 32.4 x 42.5 cm large oil painting on paper will enter the race with an estimate of € 300,000-400,000.

With Otto Mueller's tempera and mixed media work “Zwei Mädchen auf der Waldwiese“ the range of offerings comprises an idyl of highest quality. The work in landscape format from 1910 will be called up with an estimate of € 200,000-300,000, the same price that has been tagged to Heinrich Campendonk's “Drei Akte mit Schildkröte“. The enchanting work is one of his sought-after interiors from the 1920s.

Apart from a range of works by Emil Nolde, led by two watercolors of sunflowers (estimates: € 80,000-120,000 each), Karl Hofer is also represented with around half a dozen works. The work “Mann (Jüngling) mit Hund“ from 1918 delivers remarkable proof of the artist's maturity which he had predominantly attained in the field of portray art. The oil painting has been estimated at € 120,000-140,000.

More impressive works in the section of Modern Art come from Gabriele Münter, among them the oil painting “Straße nach Belle-vue“ from 1906 (estimate: € 60,000-80,000), and four expressive works from Paul Kleinschmidt, as well as works by Otto Dix, Julio González, Alexander Kanoldt, Paul Klee, Georg Kolbe, Walter Leistikov, Max Liebermann, Henri Matisse, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso, Oskar Schlemmer and Karl Schmidt-Rottluff.

Post War Art
Estimated at € 350,000-450,000, the top position in this section is occupied by a work from Robert Longo which unites fascination and fear. In an impressive true-to-life manner the New York artist stages a great white shark in this monumental work from the famous series “Perfect Gods“.

The “unknown in art“ can be discovered in Willi Baumeister's “Hommunkulus aufsteigend“. What is known, however, is the estimate of the merry oil painting, in which a black fantasy figure ascends, following the composition “Faust Schatten I“. It is estimated at € 300,000-400,000.

“Das Geheimnis des Sex-Appeal“ (The Secret of Sex Appeal) could be disclosed for € 250,000-350,000, at least according to the title of Konrad Klapheck's sewing machine in oil, which describes sexual appeal as restrained fulfillment.

After top hammer prices were realized last December, the appetite for ZERO art is still big, but a large a la carte offer with numerous works from the movement - around 50 alone by the triad Mack, Piene and Uecker – will not only satisfy the first appetite but also promises top results.

Otto Piene achieved a new world record in the last auction at Ketterer Kunst with a result of € 825,000 and also occupies second place in the world auction result ranking. In this respect the estimate of € 150,000-200,000 for the oil, fire and soot painting “Luther Rose“ from 1962, the best days of ZERO, is almost moderate, especially as it is a very powerful and striking work by the great master.

Next to a small 50 x 60 cm untitled fire piece by Piene from the same year (estimate: € 80,000-120,000), Günther Uecker is represented with, among others, two nail works from 1979 and 1988 respectively that have been estimated at € 200,000-300,000 each.

His friend and colleague Heinz Mack provides the captivating work ”Schwarzes Licht im Relief“, with expectations amounting to € 100,000-150,000. His ”Lichtrelief“ from 1968 could perhaps change owners for € 50,000-70,000. It guides the light and makes it artistically perceptible in best Zero manner. The relief's architectural precision stands in charming contrast with the airiness of the dancing light reflections caused by the light incidence.

In the sculpture section Tony Cragg's shines with his 2008 work ”Outlook“ (estimate: € 70,000-90,000), which is kept in his characteristic and unmistakable abstract-organic structure and Anselm Kiefer's heavy-weight ”Lapis Philosophorum“ will be called up with an estimate of € 200,000-300,000.

Other important works in this section are Yves Klein's “Monochrome bleu (IKB 262)“ (estimate: € 140,000-180,000) and Josef Albers' “Study for Homage to the Square: Framed Sky 'C'“ from 1970, as well as Gerhard Richter's “13. Nov. 1995“ (estimates: € 120,000-150,000 each) and works from acclaimed artists such as Christo, Rainer Fetting, Adolf Richard Fleischmann, Günther Fruhtrunk, Rupprecht Geiger, Hans Hartung, Georges Mathieu, Ernst Wilhelm Nay, Jan Schoonhoven, Kazuo Shiraga and, of course, Andy Warhol.

Contemporary Art
Next to Jason Martin's large-size work “Evangelist“ (estimate: € 60,000-80,000) from 2007, Anselm Reyle contributes very captivating pieces of art to this department. His two works with rhythmic stripes from the same year carry estimates of up to € 80,000.

The Dresden artist Eberhard Havekost is also going to enthuse art lovers with his oil painting “Gras”, estimated at € 30,000-50,000, from 2002.

More top lots in this section come from, among others, Norbert Bisky, Aris Kalaizis, Markus Schinwald, Dirk Skreber, Tony Oursler and Russel Young.