A rare masterpiece by Edvard Munch will brush the top-lot evening auction Christie's «The Art of Impressionism and Modernism" in May 2010

Top-lot evening auction Christie's «The Art of impressionism and modernism", which will be held May 4, 2010 in New York, Edvard Munch's painting will be "Abundance" - one of the most outstanding works by the artist, are today in private collections (estimate of 25-35 million dollars).

picture was painted in the end of 1890 Munch -s, and in 1902 bought by Dr. Max Linde - the patron of the artist, who helped him to settle in Germany. Since 1918 the canvas was in a private collection of Scandinavian and only occasionally participated in exhibitions held by leading museums in Europe and the USA. At the public auction Abundance exhibited for the first time.

Conor Jordan, the head of the New York Department of impressionist and modernist art Christie's, said: "Edvard Munch is one of the most prominent and influential artists of the era of modernism , a pioneer in the movement of Impressionism, which was trying to express their creativity through the secret essence of human nature. We are honored to stand up for sale this rare masterpiece, referring to the most important creative period Munch. Aesthetic appeal, rich texture, excellent safety - all these factors contribute to the fact that this work may be a worthy ornament to any collection, while possessing all the chances to establish a new record price for the work of Munch ».

leaf" Abundance "(ca. 120 x 130) is one of the greatest works of Munch, he created early in his career. The main space in the center of the picture painted in green tones with rich orange, red and yellow accents, is a cherry tree, whose branches are covered with berries. The sides of the tree are male and female figures, dressed in work clothes. They both look at each other, recalling the biblical story of Adam and Eve. Title leaf, the theme of renewal of nature and noticeably pregnant woman's cause in the minds of the audience thought of the general revival and instill a sense of hope for a brighter future. A small touch of sadness, along with thoughts of fresh wounds brings motif cut branches on the ground which reddens bare trunk. As an alternative titles Munch paintings considered the option "Fertility».

work on a painting Munch completed in late 1890 - a period that is characterized by extraordinary productivity of the artist and the ambiguity in his personal life. In 1898, began his love affair with Tullius Larsen, the daughter of a wealthy wine merchant of Christiania (now Oslo). Unlike most of Munch, the son of an army doctor, Tully belonged to a wealthy bourgeois class. Although he had already decided to marry, passionate affair came to its tragic conclusion in 1902, when the incident occurred, which resulted in Munch by chance shot off a toe on his left hand. Today, researchers have concluded that the prototype for the red-haired woman depicted in this canvas, as well as in the painting "Metabolism", likely to be served is Tully.

Today on the international art market demand for the work of Munch, specifically applicable to that period, continued to grow steadily, warming up with rare works of such dating. Few of them are in private collections, while most of them, including the "Metabolism" and "Eye to Eye", have much in common with this work are part of the Museum Edvard Munch in Oslo. The last time the artist's work was exhibited at a similar level of trading in November 2008. It was painting "Vampire", pushed under the hammer for a record $ 38.1 million dollars .

Source: press release Christie's