Two years ago, during its 'Contemporary Week', the Viennese auction house Dorotheum sold Max (MOPP) Oppenheimer’s final self-portrait for €700,000 – a new auction record for the Austrian artist. In this year’s contemporary auctions, taking place from 17-20 November, Oppenheimer is once again represented by a masterpiece.
Das Hess-Quartett. Streichquartett I (The Hess Quartet: String Quartet I) from 1914 is the first in a series of paintings in which Oppenheimer explored the subject of string quartets. Coming from a musical family and being a violinist himself, this theme was particularly close to his heart. The painting was created shortly after Oppenheimer moved from Vienna to Berlin, where he not only encountered the quartet led by the renowned violin virtuoso Willy Hess but also engaged with Futurism and Cubism. These influences combine in this remarkable work, in which the four musicians are gathered tightly around a central point. Despite – or perhaps precisely because of – this spatial confinement, a palpable dynamic emerges, transforming the painting into an almost acoustic experience.
Max Oppenheimer kept Das Hess-Quartett. Streichquartett I in his possession for a long time, exhibiting it regularly. He finally sold the painting around 1934, and it remained in private hands until its recent rediscovery.
Oppenheimer’s masterpiece is one of the highlights of the Modern Art auction, which will open ‘Contemporary Week’ on 17 November at 6:00 p.m.
Also worthy of note is Giorgio de Chirico’s Gli Archeologi (Manichini Seduti) from 1962. The theme of archaeologists appears repeatedly throughout the artist’s body of work; having first explored it in the 1920s, he returned to it time and again – most notably during the 1960s and 1970s, a period in which he revisited and reworked his own earlier creations. In keeping with this, the bronze sculpture Il Grande Archeologo (c. 1970) will also be featured in the auction.
Other highlights of the auction include works by Alfons Walde, Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, and Odilon Redon.
The Contemporary Art I auction – beginning on 18 November at 6:00 p.m. – is equally notable, featuring works by artists such as Victor Vasarely, Neo Rauch, Salvo, Daniel Richter, and Carla Accardi.
This offering is led by a key work by Ad Reinhardt, which can be viewed as a precursor to his late black abstract paintings. Abstract painting (Green) from 1952 already anticipates many aspects, including the matt surface, which prevents any reflection and thus distraction.
A typical work by Piero Dorazio is Match from 1968. By juxtaposing and superimposing color stripes, Dorazio brings the canvas to life, creating an effect of light and depth, a kind of visual rhythm.
The contemporary art sales continue on November 19 at 5:00 p.m. with an online-only auction. Earlier that afternoon, at 2:00 p.m., the focus shifts to the Important and Fine Jewels auction.
With its selection of rings, necklaces, brooches, and tiaras, this collection offers everything a jewellery enthusiast could desire. Particularly noteworthy are several pieces featuring high-quality sapphires. In addition to a ring set with a Kashmir sapphire, a necklace featuring a Ceylon sapphire, and a Sapphire bangle by Wellendorff, this dragonfly brooch by Cartier deserves special mention. Crafted from white gold, the piece is set with white diamonds totalling approximately 8.60 ct, as well as seven untreated Ceylon sapphires weighing approximately 8.40 ct.
The auction week concludes on November 20 at 2 p.m. with the Wrist and Pocket Watches auction, featuring timepieces from Rolex, Patek Philippe, Cartier, A. Lange & Söhne, and other renowned manufacturers.
A particular highlight is an enchanting creation in rose gold and onyx by Jaquet Droz. Produced around 2018 in a limited edition of just 28 pieces, the "Loving Butterfly" wristwatch – which incorporates an automaton – draws upon the brand’s centuries-old tradition of mechanical automata. At the press of a button, the scene on the dial springs to life, setting the butterfly wings and the carriage wheel in motion.
Dorotheum’s 'Contemporary Week' will take place from November 17–20 at the Palais Dorotheum (Dorotheergasse 17, Vienna). While the watches and jewellery are already available for viewing, the art exhibition opens on November 7. The auction week is further complemented by an online auction titled Editions on December 3 at 4 p.m., featuring works by Gerhard Richter, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and other prominent artists.
