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Brahegatan 10
BOX 5038
114 37 Stockholm
All auctions / Contemporary Art / Roland Topor (1938-1997) - Ceci n’est pas un Chat faible...
Roland Topor (1938-1997) – “This is not a weak cat” – Original ink drawing annotated “Historical drawing BXL Topor” – Framed Characteristics: • Artist: Roland Topor (1938-1997) • Title: Ceci n’est pas un chat faible • Technique: Original ink drawing on paper • Sheet dimensions: about 28 × 20 cm • Framed dimensions: 55 × 46.5 cm • Framing: Gold frame on patinated gold leaf with craquelure effect, dark inner filet, black mat, anti-reflective glass (new custom framing) • Annotations: Handwritten inscription by the artist “essai d’érotisme primaire” + contemporaneous annotation “Historical drawing BXL Topor” • Provenance: Private collection, Brussels Description: With black humor and irreverence, Roland Topor signs here a jubilant and direct wink at René Magritte. The title “Ceci n’est pas un chat faible” immediately announces the visual and intellectual game that characterizes the artist’s entire body of work. The drawing depicts a cat seen from behind whose tail metamorphoses into a second feline head, creating an hybrid and paradoxical creature typically Toporian. On the animal’s body, the handwritten inscription “essai d’érotisme primaire” adds a touch of absurd eroticism and irony. In a few nervous, precise ink strokes, Topor blurs the lines: is it a cat? An idea? A surreal joke? A metaphor for the human condition? Annotated by hand at the top “Historical drawing BXL Topor,” this drawing was probably made in Brussels. It condenses the essence of Roland Topor’s universe into one: unexpected metamorphoses, devastating humor, and unsettling poetry. A rare work, full of wit and immediately recognizable, perfect for lovers of surrealism, dark humor, and Topor’s iconoclastic oeuvre. Condition: Very good overall condition. The paper shows age-toned yellows and natural aging as well as a few discreet conservation creases typical of old drawings on thin paper (visible in macro photos). A slight paper edge cut visible at the top end (see detail photo). No moisture stains. The ink is well preserved, the lines remain sharp and expressive. The work has been recently framed with care and presents a very satisfactory condition for a drawing of this period. Framing (new – custom-made): Very handsome frame with gold leaf patinated gold, craquelure effect and controlled wear, classic style reimagined. The frame includes a dark inner filet and a deep black mat that perfectly enhances the drawing. High-quality anti-reflective glass. Exterior dimensions: 55 × 46.5 cm. The ensemble is elegant, restrained, and contemporary while respecting the work’s iconoclastic spirit. Ready to hang. Artist biography: Roland Topor (1938-1997) is one of the most distinctive and radical figures of 20th-century art. A genius illustrator, writer, filmmaker, screenwriter, and actor, he developed a visual universe instantly recognizable where the absurd, metamorphosis, and black humor reign supreme. Close to Fernando Arrabal and Alejandro Jodorowsky (with whom he notably collaborated on El Topo), he marked his era with total freedom of tone and line. His novel The Chimera Tenant (Le Locataire chimérique, 1964) was adapted for the screen by Roman Polanski. His graphic work, of rare inventiveness and ferocity, blends erotism, horror, and zany poetry. A spiritual heir of Surrealism while being deeply original, Topor remains today one of the most sought-after artists by collectors of graphic art and drawings from the 20th century.
Estimate:£1,028.54
To the auctionView all items fromCatawikiorContemporary Art
Estimate:
£1,028.54
1996 Australia 1/10 oz Gold Lunar Rat (Series I)
12/06/2017
£351.02
Est: £436.01
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