Sotheby’s Paris is delighted to present the fifth edition of Surrealism and Its Legacy, celebrating one of the most revolutionary and enduring movements in modern art. Born out of a desire to challenge convention and transcend the boundaries of reality, Surrealism forever transformed the artistic landscape, opening the door to a world where imagination reigns supreme, the unexpected becomes extraordinary, and the impossible comes to life.
Bringing together exceptional works by leading figures of the Surrealist movement, including René Magritte and Joan Miró, alongside influential artists such as Alexander Calder and Andy Warhol, whose work reflects the movement’s far-reaching legacy, this sale offers a compelling journey through the evolution of the Surrealist vision. From seminal works that defined the movement to those that reveal its profound influence on post-war and contemporary art, the sale highlights the enduring power of an artistic revolution that continues to inspire, provoke and captivate across generations.
The Legacy of Surrealism: Americans in Paris
“I never sell a painting; I make people fall in love with the painting that I love.”
Dating from 1982, Alexander the Great is a brilliant and glamorous work in both its splendor and its decadence. This rare work is, in every sense of the word, an icon: first because it is unique; because the magnificent fluorescent yellow background pays tribute to the gold backgrounds of ancient icons; and because the very figure of the portrait is precious and worthy of adoration.
Alexander Calder, Mobile, 1950. Estimate €2,000,000–3,000,000.
Mobile is a subtle marriage of the engineer’s rigour and the poet’s freedom. Having become one of the most respected artists on both sides of the Atlantic, Calder made this work a celebration of cosmopolitanism and friendship. He offered it to the wife of one of his dear friends, art dealer Pierre Loeb whose encounter upon his arrival in Paris in 1926, was a decisive moment in Calder's artistic development. The work subsequently passed through Galerie Albert Loeb before entering the collection of Natalie and Léon Seroussi around 1990. The fact that it has belonged to only two family collections since leaving the artist’s hands is of particular significance, connecting two generations of distinguished Parisian collectors and dealers, united by their commitment to modern and Surrealist art.
Is It an Apple, a Horse or Both? The Surreal World of René Magritte
Is It an Apple, a Horse or Both? The Surreal World of René Magritte
Miró: Reaching for the Moon
Femme et oiseau devant la nuit
