Who would have ever imagined, in their wildest dreams that a simple splatter of paint, a solid coat of one single colour painted on a canvas, or even an infant like sketch that would take 10 seconds to complete, would in the right hands sell for millions and millions of dollars? Is this even possible in today’s vast and sweeping art market? It most certainly is, and records for highest priced artworks sold over the last century continue to be broken to this very day. However it is our intention to explore specifically as to why such simple artworks from all around the world have been sold so expensive. More so we will explore some of the artist’s backgrounds, ultimate intentions, the era of their prime, and of course why their particular artworks sold for such an extensively high price.
Let us begin our journey with an artist named Lucio Fontana. His artwork entitled “Concetto spaziale, Attesse,” (“The concept of Space, Waiting”) sold for 1.5 million dollars at an auction in London, England. The piece itself is said to be simply a plain white canvas in which was painted blood red as we know it, with various longitudinal slots. It is said that these slots within the canvas are slit to help the viewer imagine the space (Kothari). The artist was born on the 19th of February 1899, in Rosario de Santa Fé, Argentina. Lucio’s mother was Argentinean while his father was Italian. The young artist was raised in the city of Milan, Italy from 1905 to 1922, only to move back to Argentina when he was twenty-three years old. It was here where he worked as a sculptor in his father's studio for many years, only to open his own in the very future (Guggenheim). It was in the year of 1949 that marked the turning point in the artist’s career where he established his first full series of paintings in which he began puncturing slits into the canvas concluding that it was “his first spatial environment, a combination of shapeless sculptures, fluorescent paintings, and black lights to be viewed in a dark room” (Guggenheim). At the time this hole and slit puncturing configuration was entirely new to the art world and was described by many as revolutionary, therefore a major contributing factor towards its modern day price tag. The era of the 1920’s was the genesis of the extremely popular Surrealism and Art Deco periods. Furthermore, it was the Internationally renowned Sotheby’s Auction house (Est. 1744) whom stated on behalf of Lucio Fontana’s Concetto Spaziale, Attese, that “its unmatched and ambitious contribution to the philosophical landscape of the post-war era marks as a work of crucial art historical importance”, hence its great significance and value in global art (Sotheby’s).
Now let us turn our attention to an artist named Mark Rothko, an artist in which I am very familiar with following a trip to Washington, D.C. several years ago. According to my personal notes, Rothko was born was born on September 25, 1903 in Dvinsk, Russia (modern day Latvia). His father was a pharmacist whom married his mother in 1886. Rothko was ten years old when he and his family immigrated to the United States, only to settle in Portland, Oregon. When we look at his “untitled” piece which sold for twenty-eight million dollars, expectantly, one can say that there is really nothing to it. Yet this simplified classic painting that contains two vertically aligned solid-filled rectangles (one larger than the other) of fire-orange, only to be outlined by an almost light-brown painted frame with a solid lined intersection between both rectangles; has ravingly been recognized as a directly representation of the fundamental nature of “human drama”( NGA). What do you think? Upon my visit to The National Gallery of Art, they described in a catalogue his sold twenty-eight million “untitled” piece; as a direct reflection of his 1950s collection of work which can be characterized as increasingly simplified uses of form, expanding dimensions with brilliant hues with a thin/broad wash of alleviant colours. Some said that they could actually see the rectangles floating. The artwork sold for a great deal of money mainly because his work looked to “engulf the spectator” with still abstraction, while the United States had generally moved on from this master as the Pop Art Movement slowly took over the country from Britain. It was worth great value especially being that Rothko painted “with a rare mastery of nuance the expressive potential of color contrasts and modulations;” not like anyone had seen before (NGA).
Now we divert our attention to a currently living artist. Now at age 84, Gerhard Richter can be described as one of the most famous German Contemporary artists of all time. I had the great pleasure to view some of his work myself while on vacation in New York City. Although I did not specifically see his “Spiegel, blutrot” (Mirror, Blood Red) 1991 piece in which sold for $1 Million at a Sotheby’s New York Auction, the work simply speaks for itself, and that is simply “Red”. Seriously, the entire surface is painted in a solid one shaded blood red tone. However one of the features that makes this artwork distinguishable and unique amongst other artworks at the time is that instead of using a canvas, Richter decided to spice things up by painting over a solid sheet of glass; hence the title “Mirror, Blood Red”. But is this unique distinguishment enough to distinguish Richter as the “greatest living painter today”? (EYGR). Richter focused heavily on the interconnection between abstraction and realism, as he studied both during his youth. However he as an artist never fully embraced technique of the late twentieth century succession of art movements, such as Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, Conceptualism, and American/British Pop art (Elger). Richter has absorbed many of their ideas while remaining skeptical of all grand artistic and philosophical credos; which is why his artwork has been sold for millions of dollars (Elger). Richter’s Mirror, Blood Red, has been often called ambiguous and extremely controversially means of simple subject matter and simplicity of material alteration, yet his paintings are still to this day one of the most expensive, among all living artists. Now we take a look at the famous “green white” oil on canvas painting created by Ellsworth Kelly in 1961, in which sold for $1650000. I had the absolute pleasure to see this painting in person at the Sidney Janis Gallery while in New York, however to be completely honest there is not much too it. The white canvas simply looks to be primed in gesso white, only to display a solid green circle or “blob” as some called it, on the very center entirety of the piece. I do love green, however the painting is somewhat odd looking and unbalanced as the circle itself is not completely symmetrical. The work sizes 66 x 69 in. (167.6 x 175.3 cm.) (Christie’s). Kelly was born in Newburgh, New York in 1923, and raised in northern New Jersey, where the young man spent much of his regular time alone and with nature, analysing birds and insects. “These observations of nature would later inform his unique way of creating and looking at art” (Christie’s), some say that “green white” is Kelly’s direct representation of the world and its “figuratively speaking” asymmetrical reality. Now to answer the question as to why this piece sold for such an expensive amount; one being that Kelly was a revolutionary artist for being one of the first to create irregularly shaped canvases (Christie’s). Furthermore, “His subsequent layered reliefs, flat sculptures, and line drawings further challenged viewers' conceptions of space” (Christie’s) Kelly was not a particular participant within the following art movements, but was central in vitally influencing the development of such: Hard-edge painting, Minimalism, Pop art, and Color Field.
Now we take a look at artist Christopher Wool’s “Blue Fool” painting in which he created in 1991. The artwork size is precisely 274.3 x 182.9 cm. and was created in the enamel medium (Christie’s). The canvas displays the letters “F” “O” followed by “O” “L” underneath, was sold in 2010 at Christie’s New York in 2010 for a little over $5 million. Many question who is the fool here, the artist? The audience? Art? Wool has never really given a plain answer according to my own research (Christie’s). The American born, Bostonian in 1955, began a long lasting relationship with text/stenciling in the early, and throughout the 1980s, when the artist “saw a new white truck spray-painted over with the words “sex” and “luv” (Christie’s). This simple witness of social and urban observation introduced the artist to a whole new world of art-making possibilities and would ultimately be his ticket to success in the art world. These so called Word paintings featuring large stencil letters and phrases to this day remain Wool’s most popular works and were completely new and fresh at the time of their creation and during the American neo- Expressionism era in art at the time.
Artist, Barnett Newman was born in New York City, on January 29, 1905. The artist has been recognized as one of the major central figures of the abstract expressionism era in art alongside a foremost of the colour field painters (Wells). Barnett’s artwork entitled “White Fire I”, sold in New York City for $3.8 million dollars. According to my own previous knowledge of the artist and his artwork, he was said to have been famous for a representational figure of the post-war era in art. Although I never saw the connection whatsoever in terms of artistic subject matter, style and demeanor; I can say that Barnett has a much distinguished style amongst all his artwork as most great artists do (Wells). One of the major reasons for Barnett’s work inheriting such success and money such as “White Fire I” is to do with his simple geometry and geometric structure which is brought to life by the presence of his unique stylistic and active brushwork (Wells). This uniqueness ultimately had auctioneers and buyers on the tips of their toes when occasionally selling Newman’s work.
Let us now look at artist Blinky Palermo, who was really born with the name “Peter Heisterkamp” in Leipzig, Germany in 1943. He was given the nickname Blinky Palermo in resemblance to the late boxer and the nickname stuck with him ever since he was approximately 21 years of age (DAF). The artwork in which we look at here was “untitled” but simply consisted of two different shades of blue, one darker than the other on the upper area of the canvas and the larger field-filled area given as well. I myself have heard many harsh reactions and comments towards the simple canvas painting, as it simply consists of two solid colour fields on a single canvas. Yet it sold for the immense amount of $1.79 million dollars at a Ney York City Auction. Why? The artwork was completed in 1969, and sat under the style of minimalism and Field Painting; Genre: Abstract (DAF). In saying so, Palermo was uniquely recognized in that he was Ultimately distinguished for his fabric paintings and spare monochromatic canvases handcrafted from “simple lengths of colored material cut, stitched and stretched over a frame” (DAF). The artist painted over steel, aluminum, paper, Formica, and wood where he would often make lines out of tape instead of coloured paint (DAF). This highly unrecognized artistic development had not been eccentric whatsoever within the conceptual art era at the time, making his artwork value much higher within passing years. More so, unfortunately the artist in 1977 at the very young age of aged 33 during a trip in Maldives, where in later years the value of his artwork would be exceedingly increased as unfortunately in the art world, artistic value can be much exceeded when one is deceased as opposed to being alive.
Now we turn our attention to American artist Franz Kline, who was born on May 23, 1910 in Pennsylvania. Unfortunately the renowned abstract expressionist artist was only fifty-two years of age at his death; this was ultimately a contributing factor to the rise in price of his distinguished work (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica) specifically we divert our attention to an “Untitled” piece in which Kline sold for $40.4 million dollars through Christies Auction House. In terms of why Kline’s artwork sold so expensive, aside from his early death, is that he was still a major recognized and talented Abstract Expressionist painter during the late art period (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). More so it was Kline’s importance among the rest of the artists during this period specifically in that he was one of the “leading painters of the post-World War II Abstract Expressionist movement; while his work assumed a new direction in the extreme simplicity and elegance of huge, carefully balanced masses” (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica). It is to my recollection that Kline also originally worked in the style that merged Social realism and Cubism (The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica).
Damien Hirst was born on June 7, 1965 in Bristol, United Kingdom. The British artist has retained his fame and “current high price tag” as being one of the leading figures within the Young British Artists movement in the late 1980s and 90s (New Art Editions). I did have the glorious opportunity to witness in person, Hirst’s world famous “For The Love of God” sculpture during his Solo Exhibition of 2012 in Tate Modern, London, United Kingdom, however I did not have the opportunity to witness Hirst’s famed “Mickey”, in which was auctioned in aid of Kids Company on the 13th of February 2014; for $500,000 as Disney invited the artist to create the artwork which would be inspired by Mickey Mouse “in his own unique artistic language” (New Art Editions). The piece containing sole spot motif and simple dots of alternate colour, outlines the silhouette of Mickey mouse through means of circles taking inspiration of Mickeys “round shapes” (New Art Editions). The very successful yet controversial artist’s paintings have indeed sold for exceedingly high prices and Hirst is today, one of the wealthiest living artists; “I love that the imagery is so powerful that it only takes 12 different coloured dots to create something so instantly recognisable” (New Art Editions).
Now we turn our attention to another artist whom was quite avid during the Abstract Expressionism period in art, Willem De Kooning. The Dutch artist was born on April 24, 1904 in Rotterdam, Netherlands and died on March 19, 1997 at the age of 93 in East Hampton, New York (Stevens & Annalyn). Simply being that underneath Jackson Pollock himself, De Kooning was considered the most celebrated and prominent figures during the Abstract Expressionist era. “His pictures typify the vigorous gestural style of the movement and he, perhaps, did more than any of his contemporaries to develop a radically abstract style of painting that fused Cubism, Surrealism and Expressionism” (Stevens & Annalyn). The artists “Untitled VI” oil on canvas painting completed in 1975, sold for $12,402,500 at the Contemporary Art Evening Sale on the 10th of May in the year 2012, New York City (Stevens & Annalyn). I myself find this artwork to be very fascinating, in that it seems to have more life, more enthusiasm, subject matter and action/effort then most of the other artworks in which we have looked at thus far. That is not to say that I would ever consider paying approximately $12 million dollars for it even in my wealthiest dreams, however I tend to like De Kooning’s free and creative style more so than some of the others in which we have explored here. The artist himself stated that what fascinates him is to make something that he can never truly be sure of and no one else can be sure of either (Phillips). His artwork is looked to as a mastery of abstract painting in cross to new realms.
Lastly, we take a look at Cy Twombly’s artwork “Untitled (Lot 18)”, which was sold for $70,530,000 at the Sale of Contemporary Art at Sotheby's, New York (Cascone & Boucher). The artwork consists of a simple “blackboard” surface which is covered in fairly equivalent circular-cross chord scribbles over the entirety of the piece. It is to my understanding that the work is in fact a part of a larger group of fairly equivalent blackboard paintings created from1966 through1973, as the style is distinguishably recognizable. When asked why this piece sold so expensive mainly it can be said that it all started with a simple “line”. Following Twombly’s recognized appearance at the 1964, Venice Biennale, and twice in later years; the artist has been proclaimed as a giant of the 20th century Art History (Cascone & Boucher). Others believe that his alternate works should be of greater recognition; it is his unique scribbles and constant lineal patterns and scratches that have gained his supreme importance amongst other profound artists. “Gray is one of the most delicate and difficult colors,” expressed Cy’s Agent, it is this uniqueness that ultimately makes a stand in the art world (Cascone & Boucher). I myself have heard a curator of a New York Museum describe the work as a powerful energy captured through waves of chalk-paint. Others believe it to be Cy’s very own language in which he speaks towards his audience. The question I ask is as to whether or not Cy truly wanted his viewers to understand his language; and if so, why at such a high cost? (Cascone & Boucher).
References:
Cascone, Sarah, and Brian Boucher. “Why Cy Twombly's Market Is About to Take Off - Artnet News.” Artnet News. 13 Nov. 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Christie’s. “Christopher Wool (b. 1955) -Blue Fool.” Christopher Wool (b. 1955). Christie's. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Christie’s. “Ellsworth Kelly (b. 1923) -Green White.” Ellsworth Kelly (b. 1923). Christie's. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
DAF. “Blinky Palermo.” Dia Art Foundation. Oct. 2010. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Elger, Dietmar. “Gerhard Richter Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story Foundation. Modern Art Insight. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
EYGR. “Early Years » Biography » Gerhard Richter.” Early Years » Biography » Gerhard Richter. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Guggenheim. “Collection Online”. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation (SRGF). Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Kothari, Aayushi. “9 Pieces of so Called Modern Art That Have Been Ridiculously Sold for Millions.” Luxurylaunches. 27 Jan. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
New Art Editions. “Damien Hirst ‘Mickey’ SOLD.” Damien Hirst Mickey. 06 May 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
NGA. “National Gallery of Art.” Mark Rothko. NGA Foundation. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Phillips. “Phillipsauction.” P H I L L I P S. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Sotheby’s. “Now Contemporary Art Evening Auction.” Fontana, Lucio Concetto Spaziale, a. Sotheby's. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Stevens, Mark, and Annalyn Swan. “Willem De Kooning Biography, Art, and Analysis of Works.” The Art Story. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica. “Franz Kline.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Wells, Chelsea. “Top 10 Ridiculous Paintings That Sold For Millions (Part 2).” PPcorn. 25 Feb. 2016. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
