Sotheby’s Announces Star of November Impressionist-Modern Sale

Sotheby’s successful strategy this Spring in New York was to focus on one or two exciting paintings. In the Spring it was Munch’s Girls on the Bridge which made more than $30 million. That sale sets up this one nicely. Vampire has all the right elements to perform very well on the market. The work is one of four canvases that explore the same theme. Like June’s star Monet, the other three are in museums. And the picture is fresh to the market having been in the same family for 70 years.

The Daily Telegraph quotes Simon Shaw on the painting:

“Vampire caused a sensation when it was unveiled, touching on … turn-of-the-century fears about women’s liberation. Some critics were outraged by its perverse, almost sado-masochistic depiction of passion. It was shocking to Berlin society just as it is shocking today.”

Finally, Sotheby’s Emmanuel DiDonna and Simon Shaw are doing there best to link the Impressionist-into-Expressionist work with current art stars: Bacon, Freud and Hirst. Finally, the painting will make a grand tour of Moscow, London and New York during October before going up for auction on November 3rd.

Edvard Munch’s Vampire to fetch £19m at auction (Daily Telegraph)

Sotheby’s Munch Press Release