Oil on laminated wood. Signed in the lower right. 88.5 x 116 cm.
• A rare composition built on the interplay between two colors and their nuances. • Interlocking edgy color fields of different shapes, the artist creates striking impasto forms with an appealing surface structure. • Shortly after the work was created, it became part of the critical collection of Dr. Franz Meyer, Zurich. It remained in his son's collection, the former director of the Kunsthalle Bern and the Kunstmuseum Basel, until 1994. • Since the year of its creation, it has been part of numerous museum exhibitions in Germany, France, and Switzerland. • The vibrant paintings from the 1950s are the most sought-after works by the artist on the international auction market (source: artprice.com). • Important museum collections, including the Centre Pompidou, Paris, Tate Modern, London, the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, own similar works. Accompanied by a written confirmation of authenticity issued by Alexis Poliakoff on October 2, 1997. LITERATURE: Alexis Poliakoff, Serge Poliakoff. Catalogue raisonné, vol. 2: 1955-1958, Paris 2010, p. 189, no. 57-46 (illustrated). - - Giuseppe Marchiori, Serge Poliakoff, Paris 1976, p. 68 (illustrated, with errnoneous information). Christie's, London, Contemporary Art, Dec. 1, 1994, lot 18 (full-page illustration on p. 37).
Serge Poliakoff, Moderne Galerie Otto Stangl, Munich, Aug./Sept. 1957, cat. no. 4 (illustrated in color, with the exhibition label inscribed by hand on the reverse). Serge Poliakoff, Kunstverein in Hamburg, Apr. 12 - May 18, 1958, cat. no. 71 (illustrated, with the exhibition label inscribed by hand on the stretcher). Serge Poliakoff, Kunsthalle Bern, Apr. 9 - May 15, 1960, cat. no. 80. Jean Arp, Sonia Delaunay et Serge Poliakoff, Musée Rath - Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, Apr. 4 - May 3, 1964, cat. no. 9 (with the exhibition label on the stretcher bars). Serge Poliakoff, Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen, June 11 - July 31, 1966, cat. no. 48. Serge Poliakoff, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris, Sep. 22 - November 16, 1970, cat. no. 51 (with the exhibition label on the stretcher, typographically inscribed and with incorrect information on the date)
Galerie Bing, Paris. Marguerite Meyer-Mahler (1898-1990) and Dr. Franz Meyer (1889-1962) Collection, Zurich (acquired from the above in 1957 or 1958). Dr. Franz Meyer (1919-2007) Collection, Zurich (inherited from the above in 1962, until 1994) Galerie Française, Munich. Private collection, South Germany (acquired from the above in 1997). Family-owned ever since
Condition report on request katalogisierung@kettererkunst.de
Lot Details
Oil on laminated wood. Signed in the lower right. 88.5 x 116 cm.
• A rare composition built on the interplay between two colors and their nuances. • Interlocking edgy color fields of different shapes, the artist creates striking impasto forms with an appealing surface structure. • Shortly after the work was created, it became part of the critical collection of Dr. Franz Meyer, Zurich. It remained in his son's collection, the former director of the Kunsthalle Bern and the Kunstmuseum Basel, until 1994. • Since the year of its creation, it has been part of numerous museum exhibitions in Germany, France, and Switzerland. • The vibrant paintings from the 1950s are the most sought-after works by the artist on the international auction market (source: artprice.com). • Important museum collections, including the Centre Pompidou, Paris, Tate Modern, London, the Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C., the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art, New York, own similar works. Accompanied by a written confirmation of authenticity issued by Alexis Poliakoff on October 2, 1997. LITERATURE: Alexis Poliakoff, Serge Poliakoff. Catalogue raisonné, vol. 2: 1955-1958, Paris 2010, p. 189, no. 57-46 (illustrated). - - Giuseppe Marchiori, Serge Poliakoff, Paris 1976, p. 68 (illustrated, with errnoneous information). Christie's, London, Contemporary Art, Dec. 1, 1994, lot 18 (full-page illustration on p. 37).
Serge Poliakoff, Moderne Galerie Otto Stangl, Munich, Aug./Sept. 1957, cat. no. 4 (illustrated in color, with the exhibition label inscribed by hand on the reverse). Serge Poliakoff, Kunstverein in Hamburg, Apr. 12 - May 18, 1958, cat. no. 71 (illustrated, with the exhibition label inscribed by hand on the stretcher). Serge Poliakoff, Kunsthalle Bern, Apr. 9 - May 15, 1960, cat. no. 80. Jean Arp, Sonia Delaunay et Serge Poliakoff, Musée Rath - Musée d'art et d'histoire, Geneva, Apr. 4 - May 3, 1964, cat. no. 9 (with the exhibition label on the stretcher bars). Serge Poliakoff, Kunstmuseum, St. Gallen, June 11 - July 31, 1966, cat. no. 48. Serge Poliakoff, Musée National d'Art Moderne, Paris, Sep. 22 - November 16, 1970, cat. no. 51 (with the exhibition label on the stretcher, typographically inscribed and with incorrect information on the date)
Galerie Bing, Paris. Marguerite Meyer-Mahler (1898-1990) and Dr. Franz Meyer (1889-1962) Collection, Zurich (acquired from the above in 1957 or 1958). Dr. Franz Meyer (1919-2007) Collection, Zurich (inherited from the above in 1962, until 1994) Galerie Française, Munich. Private collection, South Germany (acquired from the above in 1997). Family-owned ever since
Condition report on request katalogisierung@kettererkunst.de
Serge Poliakoff 
