20th Century Master Prints from the Dreier LLP Collection at Phillips de Pury & Co.

NEW YORK, NY.- Phillips de Pury & Company announced highlights from the sale of the Dreier LLP collection as part of the November Modern and Contemporary Editions auction.

The Dreier LLP collection of 20th Century Master Prints places emphasis on blue chip artists of the 1970’s and 1980’s and will feature over 40 lots in the single owner section of the catalogue.

“The Dreier LLC collection was professionally curated and shows a striking array of some of the best examples of American printmaking anchored by three of Matisse’s most elegant aquatints. We are honored to be offering such important works this season.” Kelly Troester and Cary Leibowitz, co-directors Phillips Editions Department.

The earliest works in the collection are three of Henri Matisse’s most important thick line images of model Nadia Sednaoui – Grand Masque (Claude Duthuit 800), Nadia aux cheveux lisses (D. 805) and Nadia au profil aigu (D. 810) – large scale aquatints from a series in 1947-48 showing the flowing, free-form line brush drawing technique Matisse favored towards the end of his life and were pulled in small editions of 25. “My line drawing is the purest and most direct translation of my emotion” – Henri Matisse.

High impact pop works form part of the collection, including a group of works by Andy Warhol. Bold, graphic imagery is found in three lots of flowers from the iconic 1970 series: Flowers (Feldman & Schellmann 69), 1970 (estimate $15,000/25,000), Flowers (F. & S. 71), 1970 (estimate $15,000/25,000) and Flowers (F. & S. 72), 1970 (estimate $15,000/25,000), and the dynamic screenprint in a unique color combination Martha Graham: Letter to the World (The Kick), 1986 (estimate $10,000/15,000). Other pop works include Roy Lichtenstein’s Imperfect Print for B.A.M., 1987 (estimate $8,000/12,000) and two late 80’s/early 90’s pieces by John Baldessari.

A lyrical and powerful group of 20th century’s most recognized artists such as Jasper Johns work Cicada, 1981 (estimate $20,000/30,000) and Usuyuki, 1981 (estimate $30,000/50,000) executed with the artist’s idiosyncratic cross hatch motif; Richard Diebenkorn Ochre, 1983 (estimate $20,000/30,000) with its jewel-like meditative tones, and David Hockney The Wave, A Lithograph, 1990 (estimate $15,000/20,000) and Picture of Two Chairs, from Moving Focus Series, 1986 (estimate $3,000/5,000) both composed with deliberate lines and texture rendered with immediacy and fluidity. Also included is Vija Celmins’ intensely yet delicately drawn Untitled (Ocean), lithograph from 1972 (estimate $12,000/18,000).

Prime examples of minimal works beginning with the seminal Josef Albers Soft Edge/Hard Edge portfolio of screenprints (the complete set of ten, estimate $12,000/18,000) to examples by giants Ellsworth Kelly and Frank Stella. The grand lithograph Purple Red Gray Orange, 1970 by Ellsworth Kelly (estimate $25,000/35,000) in its audacious scale (52 x 230 inches) for the medium, also by the artist is the screenprint Four Panels, 1972 (estimate $10,000/15,000) and the lithograph Blue Curve, 1976 (estimate $7,000/10,000), with their forceful yet subtle simplicity. Additional works by Kelly will also be included. Three lots by Frank Stella including Port Aux Basques, 1971 (estimate $8,000/12,000) and River of Ponds II, 1971 (estimate $4,000/6,000). Rounding out the selection are stylistically similar works by Gerhard Richter 1260 Farben, 1974 (estimate $3,000/5,000) and 9 von 180 Farben, 1971 (estimate $3,000/5,000) and Damien Hirst, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, 2000 (estimate $7,000/10,000).

There will additionally be several paintings by Lorser Feitelson and Peter Alexander and photographs by Ed Ruscha, Julius Schulman and Robert Flick sold in the same session. All of the art is attractively and archivally framed and in generally excellent condition.

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