Lot 3454 - A209 PostWar & Contemporary - Thursday, 20. June 2024, 02.00 PM
MEL RAMOS
(Sacramento 1935–2018 Oakland)
Goldie. 2010.
Oil on canvas.
Signed and dated on the reverse: Mel Ramos 2010.
91.4 × 61 cm.
Certificate:
Provenance:
- Private collection, Switzerland, acquired directly from the artist in 2011.
Literature:
Our thanks to Rochelle Leininger for the kind support.
All that glitters is not gold... Or is it?
Mel Ramo's work "Goldie" leaves the viewer in doubt: is the naked woman, seen against a pinkish-purple background, seated with her legs crossed on a real, oversized bar of gold and then captured on camera? Only a closer look reveals that "Goldie" is a finely crafted oil painting on canvas. As with Mel Ramos' entire oeuvre, this work, which has the appearance of photorealism, leaves plenty of room for interpretation and invites us to rethink our usual ways of seeing.
Through a parodic take on the typical advertising gimmicks, in which the female body has always been deliberately sexualised for the purpose of stimulating the desire to buy, Mel Ramos strives to give back to the women depicted their strength and self-determination within this narrative. In "Goldie", too, the model Indra is not flirtatious, but poses self-confidently and with a strong gaze that actively addresses and engages the viewer. Even if the lustre and high value of the material draws the viewer's attention directly to the eye-catching gold bar with Credit Suisse embossing, Indra's captivating charisma and personality, skilfully conveyed in this depiction, repeatedly draw the eye back to her figure with its powerful pose.
One thing is certain about this work: it is a great "conversation piece" which, when it comes to the economy and society, will not lose its topicality for a long time to come.
All that glitters is not gold... Or is it?
Mel Ramo's work "Goldie" leaves the viewer in doubt: is the naked woman, seen against a pinkish-purple background, seated with her legs crossed on a real, oversized bar of gold and then captured on camera? Only a closer look reveals that "Goldie" is a finely crafted oil painting on canvas. As with Mel Ramos' entire oeuvre, this work, which has the appearance of photorealism, leaves plenty of room for interpretation and invites us to rethink our usual ways of seeing.
Through a parodic take on the typical advertising gimmicks, in which the female body has always been deliberately sexualised for the purpose of stimulating the desire to buy, Mel Ramos strives to give back to the women depicted their strength and self-determination within this narrative. In "Goldie", too, the model Indra is not flirtatious, but poses self-confidently and with a strong gaze that actively addresses and engages the viewer. Even if the lustre and high value of the material draws the viewer's attention directly to the eye-catching gold bar with Credit Suisse embossing, Indra's captivating charisma and personality, skilfully conveyed in this depiction, repeatedly draw the eye back to her figure with its powerful pose.
One thing is certain about this work: it is a great "conversation piece" which, when it comes to the economy and society, will not lose its topicality for a long time to come.
CHF 80 000 / 120 000 | (€ 82 470 / 123 710)
Sold for CHF 100 000 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.