Works from the collection of art dealer John Kryuzhe will be put up for auction Christie's 4-5 November 2013. Among the top lots - works by Kandinsky, Picasso, Giacometti, Miro

I want to share the most intimate with the world ,
people to come into contact with something heroic ,
majestic and timeless .
I had to face with the most horrific
aspects of human life ,
but I continue to believe that
beauty can save the world .

Ian Kryuzhe

Auction house Christie's 4-5 November 2013 will hold an auction of two parts of the " Dialogue of the language of art : masterpieces from the collection of Jan Kryuzhe " in memory of an outstanding collector and art dealer .

Kryuzhe was a true luminary art market, he has represented a number of artists, including being the largest dealer of works by Pablo Picasso. Works that are included in the catalog of trading on November 4-5 , reflect the wide range of his interests Ian Kryuzhe - from African art and old masters to Impressionist and Modern , Post-War and Contemporary Art , American and Latin American art . Total to auction more than 150 lots, valued at a total of $ 170 million .

4 November auction will be held the evening (starting at 19:00 ), and will be held on November 5 day trading (starting at 11:00).

Kyurel Francois , president of Christie's Asia and a close friend of Jan Kryuzhe : « Some people leave an indelible memory of itself , affecting not only to others but to all mankind . Ian Kryuzhe certainly was such a man : he has an uncanny charisma and foresight . He had to undergo cruel blows of fate, remaining undefeated . Instead, he was able to keep the faith in the perfect and fight your way to the world of great art ».

Ian Kryuzhe (1928-2008)

Ian Kryuzhe
Source : Press Release Christie's

Kryuzhe Yang was born in 1928 in Radom , a small town in central Poland . Ian 's mother died when he was only five years , after which the education of the son was engaged father - an entrepreneur , who had a small collection of works by the French Impressionists. Leafing through the black-and- white prints in his father's art books , Ian acquainted with the masterpieces of world art. As a teenager during the Second World War, he was in a labor camp , where he managed to escape . Soon, he was caught again , having become a member of the guerrilla activities in Poland .

In Auschwitz -Birkenau Jan Kryuzhe had to feel the horror of the war on himself. After the liberation of the childhood memories of the beauty and joy of her perception Kryuzhe pushed to the arts , which he regarded as the culmination of human achievement. As a budding artist Kryuzhe at the end of the 1940s he moved to Paris, where he was filming studio that previously worked Chaim Chaim Soutine . However, from art classes tried to dissuade him , Alberto Giacometti, Kryuzhe persuaded that it is better to be an art dealer . In 1962, he opened in Geneva on his first gallery that represented at that time a number of famous modern artists . In 1973, the first of Kryuzhe gallery owners spent a posthumous exhibition of works by Picasso .

He did not confine himself to painting or a specific direction in art. In his gallery paintings of the XIX and XX centuries lived side by side with the works of the Old Masters and African sculptures. Such courage earned him the reputation as an innovator and one of the most important gallery owners of the twentieth century. With an extensive outlook, he was able to break down the barriers between the past and the present , between the classic and the contemporary , with love and respect and referring to the fact , and to the other .

inherent Jan Kryuzhe eclectic preferences in art was reflected in his own collection. At a time when Kryuzhe with his wife Mary - Anne - Ponyatovskaya Kryuzhe started collecting , works on paper were not as important as it is today , so the cost is relatively inexpensive . This allowed the spouses Kryuzhe soon become owners of one of the largest collections of works on paper in the world. Over the years the collection has replenished Kryuzhe masterpieces that rival those of the largest museums in the world. Some of the meeting participated in a series of exhibitions entitled "The Enduring Eye" , held in Berlin, Venice , Madrid, Paris, Vienna and Munich at constant excitement among the spectators. Sam Kryuzhe these exhibitions devoted to his family , the memory of the Holocaust and those who survived were left with the "eternal prison inmates memories ».

Impressionist and Modern Art

Wassily Kandinsky Autumn landscape . 1911
Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 41
Estimate: 20-25 million dollars
Source : Press Release Christie's

Conor Jordan , deputy head of Impressionist and Modern Art Christie's: « Any person introducing the collection of Jan Kryuzhe , it becomes obvious that the connecting factor in its formation was rich horizons owner and his love of the beautiful ."

Among the works of modernism offered for sale during the evening auction, the clear favorite is dated 1911 year of " Autumn Landscape » Wassily Kandinsky ( estimate 20-25 million dollars). This painting is a masterpiece created by Kandinsky during the fruitful period of creative research 1908-1911 years , when the artist drew inspiration from his own imagination , not looking at the external reality . It was at this time Kandinsky realized that art should be "clean" , and for this it is necessary to free from any hint of materialism . Only abstract art can be truly spiritual. Depicted on canvas mountain - a metaphor for the sublime state , which the artist must achieve to become a seer and a prophet . He must rise above the material world and ascend to the top of consciousness with which he opens the vision of the world, enabling you to create spiritual art . For Kandinsky , this triangular mountain symbolized the evolution of the spiritual component of modern life .

Pablo Picasso Head ( Model of sculpture for the Chicago Hall) . 1962-1964
Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 21
Estimate: 25-35 million dollars
Source : Press Release Christie's

Kryuzhe the first gallery owners arranged a posthumous exhibition of works by Pablo Picasso in 1973. He established friendly relations with members of the artist's family , especially his granddaughter Marina, which chose Kryuzhe as an advisor on the distribution of master's creative heritage . Revenue from exhibitions and world tours Marina Picasso allowed to carry out a number of charitable initiatives, in particular to establish an orphanage in Vietnam and assist in the implementation of educational programs around the world , while Kryuzhe became a leading dealer of Picasso's works , specializing in a number of areas , including notebooks , sculptures , paintings , drawings , lottery drawing and ceramics. A similar position has allowed him to create his own collection of works by Picasso , 30 of which will be exhibited at the upcoming auction .

Among these works deserves special mention is made of sheet metal layout sculptures for the municipality of Chicago called "head" of 1962-1964 years (estimate 25-35 million dollars). Picasso created two models , one of which is sent as a sample to create a sculpture , and the second left himself . The sculpture itself , whose height is 65 feet , now occupies the same place as the opening day , August 15, 1967 on the square in front of city hall . This monumental piece of steel is considered to be one of the pinnacles of Picasso as a sculptor , his last great sculpture .

Pablo Picasso Bust of a man writing ( self-portrait ) . 1971
Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 11
Estimate: 6.8 million
Source : Press Release Christie's

On written in 1971 film titled " Bust of a man writing ( self-portrait ) " by Picasso portrayed himself gazing at the viewer with a notebook and pen in hand (estimate 6-8 million dollars). Self-portraits occupy a significant place in the early works of the artist , and after the Cubist period, he rarely returned to this genre. Only rarely are self-portraits during the neoclassical period , after which the figure of the artist appears on the paintings of Picasso is in the hidden form. Perhaps in the case of this self-portrait of Picasso chose not to deny yourself the pleasure to capture yourself at work on one of the last poems , which he considered his main poetic composition. Incidentally, he portrayed himself much younger than his age (he was 90 ), so he looked for self-portraits , created three decades ago, and photographs of 1939. Kryuzhe purchased the painting from the artist's granddaughter, Marina Picasso .

« Venetian I» is one of six works by Alberto Giacometti, offered for sale as part of the auction ( 12.9 million dollars). A bronze sculpture of a height greater than one meter refers to a very famous series of nine works of the same name . Having been invited to the Venice Biennale in 1956 , Giacometti began working on the series , which would embody all that he knew and he knew how in the field of sculpture. All nine papers shed light on the creative process that led to their creation . They allow you to trace the changes that have undergone initial idea of the sculptor, while remaining integrity of the work . This work was purchased by Jan Kryuzhe at auction Christie's, most likely, Giacometti was performed one of the first , if not the first in the series .

Alberto Giacometti Venetian I. 1956-1957 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 45 Estimate: 9-12 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Joan Miró A painting of a bird. 1926 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 31 Estimate: 8.12 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

written in 1926 " with a picture of a bird ," Joan Miro ( estimate 8.12 million) feature elements from the other paintings , the artist dreams , is widely recognized as the most revolutionary in his work. About one hundred works created with Miro summer of 1925 to April of 1927, it was the first experiment to study their own subconscious and the development of creative intuition. As in other works of this period, "a picture of a bird ," we will first of all pay attention to the bizarre combination of fictional artist signs and symbols that are in the same sense of humor able to express all that he neither wants, while keeping the viewer's attention.

individual works in the category of "The Art of Impressionism and Modernism »

Pablo Picasso Of the Dinaric album. 1928 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 19 Estimate: 1-1,5 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Alberto Giacometti Bust of Diego turtleneck . 1951 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 15 Estimate: 6-9 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Pablo Picasso Two children sitting ( Claude and Paloma ) . 1950 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 17 Estimate: 9-12 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Post-War and Contemporary Art

Jean-Michel Basquiat The crisis of 1982 H. Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 9 Estimate: 3-4 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

postwar and contemporary art at the auction will be 4-5 November 2013 , in particular, represented by the works of Basquiat , Rauschenberg, and Gaston . The head of a selection of works by Jean-Michel Basquiat titled "Crisis X ", created in 1982, when the artist finally confirmed one of the rising glory of the famous New York art scene (estimate 3-4 million dollars). At this point, Basquiat already walked away from work on canvas prepared for him . Instead, he asked his assistant to create a framework for future works of any material at hand , which they could find. "Crisis X" refers precisely to such works , which immediately found its fans , as the materials used are correctly pointed to New York's East Village, and the themes of art themselves and their enforcement machinery attached to the work complexity and depth .

SAM FRANCIS Untitled (SFP 59-35). 1959 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 39 Estimate: 2,5-3,5 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Sam Francis wrote the work " Untitled (SFP 59-35)» after returning to Paris from New York in 1959 (estimate 2.5-3.5 million). Bold and striking forms , as well as free writing technique convey the viewer energy, which was typical of the new environment of the artist - in particular, the followers of technology " action painting ." The work , which is characterized by luminous colors , rich and poignant clarity of composition , was one of the exhibits landmark exhibition " Sam Francis : Paintings 1947-1990 years" , held in Madrid's Reina Sofia .

PHILIPPE GASTON The picture on the floor. 1978 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 57 Estimate: 8.12 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Attention collectors will be offered two works of Philip Guston . Written in 1978 , near the end of life of Gaston , working under the name "The picture on the floor" is a kind of reflection of the continuing uncertainty of the artist in their own abilities and thirst public acceptance (estimate: 8.12 million dollars). Image of a picture , turned to the wall, symbolizing a doubt the artist 's own forces, inevitable even with the apparent success of critics and lead to loneliness and isolation. In " The painting on the floor" found out the fear and the fear that the days spent in search of creative , turn into a personal disappointment. The work can be seen as an allegorical self-portrait, where Gaston portrayed himself in the form of paintings , located in the center of the composition , thereby attempting to convey the state hostage to their own work and creativity .

Robert Rauschenberg Failure . 1965 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 36 Estimate: 0,8-1,2 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Established in 1965 , several months after the award of Robert Rauschenberg Grand Prix at the Venice Biennale in 1964 , working under the name of "Failure " is performed in the predominantly red- colored collage, immersing the viewer in the post-war atmosphere was full of passion America (estimate 0.8-1.2 million). This filled with many unexpected comparisons work is an excellent portrait of his era, while the outlines of an industrial city repeat View from the artist's studio , located on Fulton Street .

American Art

EDWARD HOPPER Dune at Truro . 1930 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 50 Estimate: 300-500 thousand dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

In the section of American Art exhibited a work of Edward Hopper's " Dune at Truro " (estimate 300-500 thousand dollars). First visit to Cape Cod with his wife in 1930 , three years in a row Hopper rented a house in the south of the town of Truro , and by 1934 th he built there own house and studio. The couple began to spend in the new house for six months , and Hopper found inspiration for creativity in the unpretentious houses and sand dunes, bathed in the clear air . Working under the name " Dune at Truro " was created in 1930 , during his first visit to Cape Cod .

Georgia O'Keeffe Goust Rock Ranch . 1952 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 51 Estimate: 400-600 thousand dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Another piece of American art from the collection of Jan Kryuzhe is the work of Georgia O'Keeffe "Rock Goust Ranch " ( 400-600 thousand dollars). The picture was painted in 1952 , after the artist settled in New Mexico, and is an excellent example of the landscape south- western America . As is the case with most of the works O'Keefe , the charm of this in the first place is the delicate balance between realism and abstraction , as well as a surprising combination of colors and shapes .

Latin American Art

JOAQUIN TORRES - GARCIA Composition. 1929 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 25 Estimate: 200-300 thousand dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Kryuzhe Ian was a big fan of Latin American Art , represented in his collection of the works of Wilfredo Lam and Joaquin Torres - Garcia. As part of the evening auction will be exhibited for sale two of the latter. Kryuzhe represented Heritage Fund Torres - Garcia, on behalf of his great-grandchildren .

Dating from 1929, "Composition" (estimate 200-300 thousand dollars ) was written after the Uruguayan artist moved to Paris. It was influenced by the work of artists who have worked at that time in the style of geometric abstraction , in particular Theo van Dusburg .

By 1930, applies oil on carved wood panel titled " The plastic object ( wooden structure ) " (estimate 100-150 thousand dollars). This work , first introduced in April 1930 , preceded a new style that came to dominate in the work of Torres Garcia , after his return to Montevideo in 1934 .

African Art

Mask Baule tribe ( Mask Kryuzhe Picasso ) Tree . Ivory Coast Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 12 Estimate: 500-800 thousand dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

section of the main lot of objects of African art is the mask of the Baule tribe , also known by the names of its two previous owners as a " mask Kryuzhe Picasso " (estimate 500-800 thousand dollars). Nowhere in the art of modernism of the early twentieth century, the deep influence of African art is not as persistent and clear , as in the works of Picasso. Energy of the mask is so strong that it seems competitiveness between her and the other , more famous muses Picasso. At Picasso's 1907 " Demoiselles d'Avignon " the impact of this kind of masks for face image heroines clear, however , and in the artist's later works such associations are ongoing . The unusual shape of the mask has influenced not only by Picasso, but also on another of its former owner - Andre Breton. Form sticking out of his mouth curved semicircle language is repeated in several works by Picasso, in particular in the " Guernica ", where the mangled pieces of bulls and horses are intertwined with human figures. Thus, the " mask Kryuzhe Picasso " is a kind of core image, which merged several themes recurring in the work of the artist - most African art , mask and bull .

individual items in the category of "Old Masters and Art of the XIX century »

Eugene Delacroix Lion, tearing a horse. Around 1844 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 4 Estimate: 300-500 thousand dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres Portrait of Countess d'Ossonvil . 1842 Christie's. 11/04/2013 . Lot 53 Estimate: 1,5-2,5 million dollars Source : Press Release Christie's

Source : Press Release Christie's