According to Artprice.com, the price index of American pop art falls. But it works great sales representatives of this movement became a symbol of speculation on the art market in recent years. The most famous artist of pop art, Andy Warhol (Andy Warhol), ranks third in the list of sponsors of the most expensive work of post-war artists (after Francis Bacon (Francis Bacon) and Mark Rothko (Mark Rothko)), but the 2008 auction sale of his works were not very successful. Does this mean that the art market is already «объелся» pop art?

images created by artists of pop art, to make them work a landmark for its era. Some authors have used in his work recognizable symbols of American culture, and other inspired products of consumer society, intended to «mass». Prints of cult artists of pop art published large numbers and often appeared on the market. In theory, pop-art must be accessible to the general public, but the amount for which sold the work of the most famous representatives of this movement (especially if those works created in a single copy), show that it is not. In 2007, the price index of pop-art has grown by 75 percent. But this year the movement was suddenly lose popularity. Of course, the important work of Andy Warhol and other stars remain inaccessible to most of the buyers of works of art, but in general the price of pop-art fall. This year the index has been lower at 31 percent.

Over the past ten years, the price indices for works by such artists as Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg (Robert Rauschenberg), Roy Lichtenstein (Roy Lichtenstein), Claes Oldenburg (Claes Oldenburg) and Tom Vesselmann (Tom Wesselmann) added to 320 up to 540 percent! The most impressive, of course, were the sale of Warhol works. In May 2007, was his personal record: picture «Green road accident» ( «burning green machine -- 1 ») was sold to New York's Christie's for 64 million dollars (more than 47 million euros). In 2006, 43 of the King of Pop Art at auction yielded more than 1 million dollars each, that 8 times higher than in major art-market stars of Pablo Picasso (Pablo Picasso) . And in 2007, broke the 68 million threshold of Warhol created in the 1960's and 1980's that allowed him the price index skaknut as much as 89 percent. This creates inflation rampant speculation. Last November, actor Hugh Grant (Hugh Grant) sold a picture «Liz» (a portrait of Elizabeth Taylor (Elizabeth Taylor), established in 1963) at Christie's for 21 million dollars, though the six years before he bought it for only 3 25 million. In 2005, a portrait of Taylor from the same series was sold at Sotheby's for 11.25 million. Another example: a small picture Are you different? ( «You don 't this?», 1985-1986) 10 February 2005, the was sold in London for a sum equivalent to 26 thousand euro, and in June 2007 brought a happy owners of 119 thousand euro.

After this crazy year, the prices of things Warhol little sleep: in the period from January to September 2008 its index decreased by 5 per cent. The boom in the works of the King of Pop-Art sly torrent. In May 2007, the version of the famous work of «Tomato Soup Campbell (in the red and black)» was sold for 682 thousand euro, but nine months later, is identical to the product brought in 66 thousand less.

In the second place in the list of the most quoted authors in the market of pop art is Jasper Johns (Jasper Johns), who also took fourth line in the rating of the sponsors of the most expensive works of living artists. However, it is up to Andy: most expensive painting at the Johns 48,5 million dollars cheaper than the most expensive painting Warhol. The main auction was a success Johns painting «The figure of 4», sold 16 May 2007 at Christie's for 15.5 million dollars.

In the same month was a record for the works of Robert Rauschenberg (Robert Rauschenberg): «Photography» 1959 brought 9.5 million dollars (about 7 million euro) in Sotheby's in New York. Two days after the artist's death (12 May 2008) of his painting Overdrive ( «distortion») 1963, was sold at Sotheby's for 13 million dollars and has become its most expensive product. But such prices Rauschenberg - a rarity: the work is not so high quality, buyers are not willing to put so many. For example, «Blue Smile» of a series of Waterworks has already doubled this year, was exhibited at the French Tajan auction and both times was unable to find a buyer. First estimeyt it was 80 thousand euros for the second time down to 60 thousand.

bubble in the market of pop art is slowly blown off, but buy the first of the major stars of this movement is becoming increasingly difficult. Buyers do not have enormous resources, can acquire mass production: the price of prints and lithographs should be ok. Of course, the famous Warhol silk-screen name is not available - they usually have five or even six-sum, but the mass production of Jasper Johns, Klas Oldenburg, Tom Vesselmanna, Daina Jim (Jim Dine), or James Rozenkvista (James Rosenquist) is realistic to buy less than 5 thousand euro. But the price of mass schedule, too vulnerable, and can greatly decrease. During 9 months of 2008 they fell by 20 per cent. Number «auction failures» of such works is increasing. For example, in September 2007 print Vesselmanna Beautiful Bedroom Kate ( «Beautiful Kate in a bedroom»), a circulation of 90 copies printed, and brought to London's Sotheby's 16 thousand euros, exceeding estimeyt twice. And at the auction in Germany in June this year, he went just 9 thousand. The same thing happens to run graphics Roy Lichtenstein: his outstanding work «brush strokes. Still Life with Lamp »(edition of 24 copies) in June 2007 was sold for 342 thousand euros, for February 2008 - over 502 thousand, and in July - a total of 315 thousand.

In addition, strongly increased the number of works by artists of pop art, which could not be sold. Last year, buyers could not find 16 percent of works in the first six months of 2008 - much as 37 percent. This year's auction a 26 per cent less than the pop-art creations: usually stimulates the growth of prices in a market where more rare works are valued higher. But Pop Art, and it did not help. Failures in this segment of the market of art - a bad sign for the other segments, particularly those where the most speculation is flourishing: it is primarily concerned with the contemporary art market, where prices are growing as a yeast.

Source: artprice.com