Lot 3258 - A207 Impressionist & Modern Art - Friday, 01. December 2023, 04.30 PM
MAX ERNST
(Brühl 1891–1976 Paris)
Janus. 1974.
Bronze, dark brown patina.
Signed, numbered and with the foundry mark: max ernst / 11/18 / A. Valusani Cire Perdue.
H 43.5 cm
Our thanks to Dr Jürgen Pech for confirming the authenticity of the work.
Certificate:
Dr Jürgen Pech, Bonn, 1.10.2023.
Provenance:
- Jacques Putman, Editor, Paris.
- Private collection, Switzerland, by descent to the current owners.
Literature:
- Jürgen Pech: Max Ernst - Plastische Werke, Köln 2005, p. 208–211 (ill.; other cast).
- Susanne Kaufmann: Im Spannungsfeld von Fläche und Raum. Studien zur Wechselwirkung von Malerie und Skulptur im Werk von Max Ernst, Weimar 2003, p. 110, no. 104, p. 230 and p. 293 (ill; other cast).
The sculpture of the two-faced Roman god of doorways "Janus," created in 1974, is an example of Max Ernst's development of plaque sculpture, which is based on Alberto Giacometti's two-sided plate or disk sculptures. The sculpture consists of a tall rectangular plaque with heads on either side. For the design elements of the shell, turtle and frog, the artist cast toy molds with plaster, styling them as female and male sexual organs. Max Ernst, one of the most important surrealists of his time, plays with the forms of human and animal, male and female, and their possible interpretations in a variety of ways.
Certificate:
Dr Jürgen Pech, Bonn, 1.10.2023.
Provenance:
- Jacques Putman, Editor, Paris.
- Private collection, Switzerland, by descent to the current owners.
Literature:
- Jürgen Pech: Max Ernst - Plastische Werke, Köln 2005, p. 208–211 (ill.; other cast).
- Susanne Kaufmann: Im Spannungsfeld von Fläche und Raum. Studien zur Wechselwirkung von Malerie und Skulptur im Werk von Max Ernst, Weimar 2003, p. 110, no. 104, p. 230 and p. 293 (ill; other cast).
The sculpture of the two-faced Roman god of doorways "Janus," created in 1974, is an example of Max Ernst's development of plaque sculpture, which is based on Alberto Giacometti's two-sided plate or disk sculptures. The sculpture consists of a tall rectangular plaque with heads on either side. For the design elements of the shell, turtle and frog, the artist cast toy molds with plaster, styling them as female and male sexual organs. Max Ernst, one of the most important surrealists of his time, plays with the forms of human and animal, male and female, and their possible interpretations in a variety of ways.
CHF 50 000 / 70 000 | (€ 51 550 / 72 160)
Sold for CHF 62 500 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.