Metamorphosis: The Willem de Kooning Decades Collection

Three decades, three extraordinary paintings, and one commandant of Contemporary Art culminate in a remarkable collection of works from Willem de Kooning. This fall, the de Kooning family collection is pleased to bring Montauk II (1969), Untitled (1975), and The Hat Upstairs (1987) to auction at Sotheby’s. Each work comes from a distinct period of de Kooning’s life in which his inspirations are so clearly reflected within each stroke of his brush, or in the case of Untitled, his spatula. In Montauk II, the surrounding landscape of the Hamptons, where his home and studio is located, serves as the base of his conceptual style, while continuing to draw on his previous work from the 1960’s regarding color and technique. Untitled, as mentioned by EVP and Chairman of the Americas Lisa Dennison, is often referred to as the Monet of de Kooning’s oeuvre, due to the deep blues and hints of rich green throughout, encouraged by the immediacy of the ocean that surround the Hamptons. Finally, The Hat Upstairs represents the singularity of de Kooning’s final decade, showcasing his astonishing ability to transform his distinct quality as an artist and make it something fresh and exciting.
The de Kooning Decades collection will be offered as a part of the Contemporary Art Evening Auction at Sotheby’s New York on 16 November.

[@TODDZEN]

He endured Poverty and became the most successful Abstract Painter in the World. Beautiful Work.

[@lindamon5101]

EXTRAORDINARY!

[@EVA55102]

It's nice to look at such pictures develops thoughts

[@khurramkhurshed9427]

Lovely 🤩

[@00fin]

Wonderful.

[@user-nz4yd3iu4t]

경관이 참 멋찌고 아름답습니다 작퓸이 예술 입니다~~

[@katiatannus3146]

FANTASTIC

[@angelajsacaartistaffiliatedwpl]

Love De Kooning arts

[@hanawana]

love

[@jasminespencer3992]

What is the estimate on these?

[@modxartist4527]

🇹🇭🙏🎨

[@chesterrogersjr1737]

Best I can do is $4.20

[@yodawg1623]

can you do $3.40?

[@Picasso_Picante92]

SOLD!!

[@mrnieblas1]

I’m a year late in the bid, but if it’s still available, I can up the bid to $3.45

[@dannistor7294]

...there's absolutely no possibility of an artist's work being uneven, right? Everything he touches is of the highest level, because Sotheby's says so...
The world is full of frauds...

[@mattstraddle3729]

Good point, these really are not great De Kooning works. I love him as an artist, but obviously this is an auction house sales pitch. The 87 work is clearly an unfinished painting, which knowing the history of De Kooning’s illness, and his artistic practice through all preceding decades, is particularly sad to see.