Two of our modern and contemporary highlights this November come from American artists who draw inspiration from their surroundings in very different ways.
First is Jim Dine (American, b. 1935), an Ohio-born multimedia artist who has been associated over the years with Neo-Dada, Pop Art, and Abstract Expressionism. Dine has often utilized found objects in his work, including sculptures influenced by classical Greece and a well-known collection of Pinocchio statues, and continued to take inspiration from the everyday in his two-dimensional pieces. Dine’s 1962 exhibition at the Pasadena Art Museum, titled New Painting of Common Objects, celebrated the ordinary with depictions of neckties, tools, and hats, displayed not as they so commonly were as background objects, but front and center, the star of the painting.
Jim Dine (American, b. 1935), Kindergarten Robes, 1983, woodcut in colors, 58.5″ x 75.5″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
During this period, Dine landed on bathrobes while searching for a way to reinvent the self-portrait. Dine sought to depict the self without a face, and thus adopted an object most intimate and familiar with which to experiment, using different styles and methods to manipulate the mundane robe. The piece in this month’s auction is titled Kindergarten Robes and dated to 1983. This large-scale woodcut print shows two coarsely rendered robes, tied at the waist with sleeves positioned toward the hips, in large swaths of yellow, blue, red, and green. The absence of a body within the robes is notable, but their well-worn wrinkles imply that it does have a history, and its positioning (which is the most frequently seen in Dine’s robes) imbues the empty articles with their own personality. Kindergarten Robes is being offered with an estimate of $6,000–$9,000.
Brian Alfred is a contemporary artist and musician originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning a fine arts degrees from Penn State and Yale and attending an artist’s residency at the Skohegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Alfred held successful solo shows at galleries in Tokyo, London, and New York City. Alfred’s interest in blending mediums includes a career in music that overlaps with the visual arts, and many of his animation videos feature soundtracks from sonic collaborators.
Brian Alfred (American, b.1974), Overpass, 2002, acrylic on canvas, 72″ x 90″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Alfred’s paintings often depict stagnant cityscapes, skylines, and landscapes devoid of people. The precise, flat method with which Alfred applies color to canvas creates a surreal atmosphere in which the world around us is reduced to form atmosphere. The acrylic on canvas, titled Overpass, in our November sale depicts a large freeway overpass with gray bridges crisscrossing one another over a pale blue sky. Patches of grass are visible below, and tall signs hover on the right side, advertising gas, food, and lodging to the invisible passers-by. The starkness of the canvas is punctuated by the absence of even one car on the road, hovering in a place between peace and unease. Overpass will be offered with an estimate of $8,000–$12,000.
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
This May 15th, Clars is excited to offer an outstanding oil on canvas painting by artist Raimonds Staprans.
Artist Spotlight
Modern + Contemporary Art
Fine Art Collectors Auction Highlights
Auction
Fine Art
This November 21st starting 10 AM PST at our Fine Art Collectors Auction, we are thrilled to showcase an exceptional array of artwork, ranging from American folk art to modern abstract masterpieces.
Among our featured pieces are two paintings by renowned American folk artist, Charles Wysocki (American, 1928–2002). Born in Detroit, Wysocki was drafted into the Army, which led him to Los Angeles, where he met his wife, fellow artist Elizabeth G. Lawrence. Inspired by the rural lifestyles surrounding 1960s Los Angeles and the pastoral beauty of New England, Wysocki’s work reflects influences from prominent folk artists of the region. Notably, viewers will notice striking similarities between Wysocki’s landscapes and those of Anna Mary Robertson Moses, or Grandma Moses, known for her nostalgic depictions of New England. A deeper connection also exists with earlier artist Rufus Porter, whose whimsical yet precise portrayals of 19th-century Massachusetts and Connecticut resonate with Wysocki’s style.
Charles Wysocki (American, 1928–2002), Martha’s Vineyard, oil on canvas, 20″ x 24″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
In our November auction, we will feature two oil on canvas works titled Martha’s Vineyard and Quiltmakers. Martha’s Vineyard depicts a Massachusetts lighthouse and surrounding buildings in a late fall landscape, showcasing a palette of brown and red grass contrasted with patches of snow. Quiltmakers illustrates a quaint community quilt sale, featuring three vibrant, meticulously detailed quilts hanging on a clothesline. We estimate Martha’s Vineyard will sell for $10,000–$15,000 and Quiltmakers for $6,000–$9,000.
Charles Wysocki (American, 1928–2002), Quiltmakers, oil on canvas, 24″ x 30″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Another highlight of the auction is an oil on canvas painting by Quebec modernist, Paul-Emile Borduas (Canadian, 1905–1960). An artist from a young age, Borduas trained as a church restorer under self-taught artist, Ozias Leduc, and furthered his studies at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. His time in Paris at the Ateliers d’Art Sacré helped him fuse his influences. Upon returning to Canada, Borduas became a pivotal figure in the Montreal art scene and founded the Automatistes, inspired by Surrealist André Breton’s ideas. His 1946 group exhibition was a landmark event in Canadian art history.
Paul-Émile Borduas (Canadian, 1905–1960), Abstraction, 1957, oil on canvas, 29″ x 23.75″. Estimate: $25,000–$35,000
Later in his career, Borduas’ work took on a political dimension, as he advocated for the separation of church and state in Quebec, a stance that led to his dismissal from l’École du Meuble. Although he faced challenges during his lifetime, his influence became evident during the Quiet Revolution, culminating in the posthumous success of his painting Figures Schématiques, which sold for $3.6 million CAD in 2018. The untitled painting in our November auction exemplifies Borduas’ style, featuring textured impasto, stark black-and-white contrasts, and abstract forms that invite interpretation of his political and personal themes. This piece is estimated at $25,000–$35,000.
Ruth Armer (American, 1896–1977), #2, 1949, oil on canvas board, 18.25″ x 23.5″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Other highlights this month include a painting by San Francisco Bay Area modernist Ruth Armer (American, 1896–1977), an oil by Texas landscape painter William Slaughter (American, 1923–2003), ceramics by Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), a selection of vintage French advertising posters, and much more.
Ellsworth Kelly (American, b. 1923), Orange with Blue, 1964–65, lithograph in colors, 35.25″ x 23.5″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Brian Alfred (American, b.1974), Overpass, 2002, acrylic on canvas, 72″ x 90″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
William A. Slaughter (American, 1923–2003), Untitled (Texas Bluebonnets by a Stream), 1974, oil on canvas, 30″ x 40″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
James Taylor Harwood (American, 1860–1940), Woodland Waterfall (Wasatch, Utah), 1910, oil on canvas, 20″ x 14″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
We are also pleased to present two hyperrealist sculptures by Danish artist, Kurt Trampedach (Danish, 1943–2013). Known for his dark, evocative paintings influenced by Rembrandt and late 19th-century Symbolists, Trampedach often explored his mental states through figurative art. His sculptures, while less abundant, retain the emotional intensity of his paintings. The two pieces in our auction, Annette and Jonas, depict Trampedach’s wife and son, created in the early 1970s from plaster on steel frames. These lifelike figures convey a sense of solemn contemplation. Annette is estimated at $8,000–$12,000, while Jonas is estimated at $4,000–$6,000.
Left: Kurt Trampedach (Danish, b. 1943), Jonas, circa 1970, plaster on steel rod, 37″ x 12.5″ x 23″. Estimate: $4,000–$6,000; Right: Kurt Trampedach (Danish, b. 1943), Annette, plaster on steel rod, 66″ x 18″ x 11″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Bidding for Clars’ November auctions is available by phone, absentee bid, live online at Live.Clars.com and through Liveauctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Clars Auctions is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. Clars Auctions is based in Oakland (CA) and is the largest full-service auction gallery in the Western United States. Clars Auctions has been the chosen auction gallery of a number of institutions and distinguished private collectors across the country, including the Richard Mellon Scaife Estate, the Thomas J. Perkins Estate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). In the last 5 years, Clars Auctions has sold well over $500,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles and Collectibles and has set multiple new world auction records. Follow Clars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Our May 15th auction will feature a diverse and compelling selection across multiple collecting categories.
Auction
Highlights
Fine Art Consignments Now Invited!
Consignments
Fine Art
If you have ever thought about selling at auction, NOW is the time. Incredible prices are being achieved on fine paintings, prints and sculpture.
Clars’ Fine Art Specialists will be in the following areas to offer private and confidential in home appointments: San Francisco | Carmel | Palo Alto | San Rafael | Healdsburg
To schedule your appointment, call (510) 428-0100 x 123 OR email [email protected]
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Plat à la Tête de Faune, 1948, partially engraved white earthenware ceramic plate with colored engobe and glaze, 12.5″ x 15.5″ x 2″. Sold: $75,600
Sam Francis (American, 1923–1994), Untitled, 1963, gouache on paper, 13.75″ x 12.5″. Sold: $28,980
William Keith (American, 1838–1911), Into the Yosemite Valley, circa 1895–1906, oil on canvas, 36″ x 60″. Sold: $113,400 – 5th highest auction record for the artist
Clars’ Important Holiday Fine Art Auction on December 18th presents an exceptional selection of artworks by celebrated artists.
Fine Art
Highlights
Property from the Collection of the Mitsui Family
Estate Spotlight
Stories & News
Clars Auctions is delighted to present a collection of Japanese and Western art from the esteemed Mitsui (Koishikawa) family, a prominent business dynasty with roots dating back to the Edo period, in our October 18th Auction.
The Mitsui family’s legacy began in 1673 as a kimono shop and evolved into the influential Mitsui Group, a zaibatsu (conglomerate) that has played a pivotal role in Japan’s economic development from the Edo period to present day.
A Japanese Kaiawase (traditional Heian-period shell-matching game) set with (3) Kaioke (laquer storage boxes), Meiji period, Kaiwase with 493 painted shells, Makie lacquer, gold and parcel gilt kaioke with floral design and mistudomoe. Custom ordered for the early 20th century marriage between Princess Hiroko of the Shimazu Clan and Mr. Takanaga Mitsui of the Mitsui Koishikawa clan. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Two massive Hirobuta trays with the Mitsui Koishikawa clan’s family crest. Custom ordered for the early 20th century marriage between Princess Hiroko of the Shimazu Clan and Mr. Takanaga Mitsui of the Mitsui Koishikawa clan. Estimate: $1,000–$1,500 (each)
An impressive Japanese Satsuma dinnerware set, custom ordered for the early 20th century marriage between Princess Hiroko of the Shimazu Clan and Mr. Takanaga Mitsui of the Mitsui Koishikawa clan. Estimate: $2,000–$3,000
Their impact on commerce and culture is well-documented, notably in the book Mitsui: Three Centuries of Japanese Business. A remarkable 1930 article in Fortune magazine noted, “There is no business enterprise anywhere which is at once so diverse as the house of Mitsui in Japan.” This diversity is beautifully reflected in the collection we are proud to offer.
An Émile Antoine Bourdelle (1861–1929) patinated bronze ‘tête de Meduse’ (head of Medusa) door knocker, circa 1925. Estimate: $6,000–$8,000
Spanning the 20th century, the collection showcases a blend of traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation, allowing art enthusiasts to immerse themselves in the rich narrative of Japanese culture. Among its highlights are exquisite gifts exchanged during the marriage of Princess Hiroko (1897–1983), of the Shimazu Clan, and Mr. Takanaga Mitsui (1892– 1962), of the Mitsui Koishikawa clan, symbolizing the family’s appreciation for art and culture.
Morino Taimei (Japanese, b. 1934), Glazed Ceramic Cube. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000
Morino Taimei (Japanese, b. 1934), Glazed Stoneware Cube. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000
Morino Taimei (Japanese, b. 1934), Black Glazed Stoneware Cube. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000
The collection features a diverse range of early 20th-century Western decorative arts, including Tiffany Studios glass and a bronze sculpture acquired directly from the renowned artist, Antoine Bourdelle, in Paris, reflecting the Mitsui family’s global perspective to fine art. Additionally, the collection proudly highlights works by contemporary Japanese artists Morino Taimei and Kyohei Fujita, showcasing their mastery of ceramics and glass.
A large Kyohei Fujita glass free form vase. Estimate: $2,500–$3,500
The exceptional property being offered May 14th reflects the senator’s refined taste and legacy.
Estate Spotlight
Stories & News
Important Fall Fine Art Auction Highlights
Auction
Fine Art
Clars is thrilled to present our Important Fall Fine Art Auction on Thursday, September 19th, at 1 PM PDT. This exciting event will feature a diverse selection of remarkable pieces from William Merritt Chase, Pablo Picasso, Yayoi Kusama, and much more.
One of the most exciting pieces up for auction is an exceptional oil on panel painting by renowned American Impressionist, William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916). Titled A Mother’s Joy and created in 1889, this piece measures 17″ x 17″ (43.2 x 43.2 cm) and is signed by the artist. It carries an estimated value of $600,000–$900,000 USD. The painting’s provenance includes its acquisition by New Jersey Governor Franklin Murphy from Fifth Avenue Art Galleries in 1891, and it has been exhibited in notable venues such as the Society of American Artists and the Chicago Interstate Industrial Exposition. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity from D. Frederick Baker and Ronald G. Pisano, Inc., this painting is a significant highlight of the auction.
William Merritt Chase (American, 1849–1916), A Mother’s Joy, 1889, oil on panel, signed lower left, 17″ x 17″ (43.2 x 43.2 cm). Estimate: $600,000–$900,000
Another standout in the auction is a ceramic pitcher by the legendary artist, Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973). Best known for his revolutionary Cubist paintings, Picasso also made significant contributions to ceramic art. This particular pitcher, titled Piquet Gothique aux Oiseaux with estimate of $8,000–$12,000, showcases Picasso’s distinctive style with its simplified painting technique and depiction of three black birds. The pitcher, crafted in 1953, is a testament to Picasso’s prolific work in ceramics, a medium he explored extensively after his initial visit to the Madoura pottery studio in Vallauris, France.
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Piquet Gothique aux Oiseaux, 1953, terre de faience pitcher painted in colors with partial glaze, 11″h. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
The Important Fall Fine Art Auction will also feature a striking photograph by photographer, Helmut Newton (Australian/German, 1920–2004). Known for his dramatic black-and-white compositions and collaborations with major fashion designers, Newton’s work has been influential in the world of fashion photography. The gelatin silver print offered in this sale, titled Vogue, France, Yves St. Laurent, Paris, captures Yves Saint Laurent’s collection inspired by film noir aesthetics, and exemplifies Newton’s iconic style of high drama and eroticism. This photograph will be offered at $10,000–$15,000.
Helmut Newton (Australian/German, 1920–2004), Vogue, France, Yves St. Laurent, Paris, 1981, gelatin silver print, 14.5″ x 14″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Several collectable and notable prints will also be offered in the September auction. Among them are two woodblock prints by artist, Gustave Baumann (American/German, 1881–1971), who is celebrated for his revival of the woodblock technique in the U.S. The two available prints, Spring Freshet valued at $5,000–$7,000 and The Sycamore at $6,000–$9,000, both highlight Baumann’s mastery in depicting southwestern U.S. landscapes.
Gustave Baumann (American/German, 1881–1971), The Sycamore, woodcut in colors, 10″ x 9.5″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Gustave Baumann (American/German, 1881–1971), Spring Freshet, woodcut in colors, 11″ x 10″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
An amazing print by the ever-popular Pop Art icon, Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), will also be up for auction. The screenprint, A Pumpkin BB-C, which reflects her famous pumpkin in vibrant blue, is priced to sell at $20,000–$30,000. This is a must have for any Kusama fan and a perfect piece just in time for fall.
Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929), A Pumpkin BB-C, 2004, screenprint in colors, 9.5″ x 11.25″. Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
The sale will continue with even more memorable prints including a 1978/79 Untitled etching by Minimalist, Donald Judd (American, 1928–1994), priced at $5,000–$7,000 and two spectacular prints by pop artist, Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997). Lichtenstein’s famous Crak offset lithograph from 1964 will be on the block at $10,000– $15,000 along with his small edition pencil signed print created for Guild Hall East Hampton at $5,000–$7,000.
Donald Judd (American, 1928–1994), Untitled, 1978–79, etching and aquatint, 32.25″ x 24.5″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Crak!, 1964, offset lithograph in colors, 18.5″ x 27″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Guild Hall East Hampton, 1980, screenprint in colors, 27.75″ x 33.5″. Estimate: $5,000–$7,000
From the Pacific Rim and estimated at $15,000–$20,000, Clars will be offering an elegant, yet colorful painting from 1963 by artist, Cheong Soo Pieng (Singaporean, 1917–1983). Heading north, a magnificent, oil on canvas by Contemporary artist, Liao Zhenwu (Chinese, b. 1964), titled The Story of Meditation, will be offered for $5,000–$7,000. Always a favorite among collectors is South Asian artist, Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887–1972). Known for capturing the essence of simplicity in the life of the Indian people, a classic gouache on paper, Untitled (Seated Figure), is another of the many highlights at Clars Auctions on September 19th and will be available for $7,000–$10,000.
Cheong Soo Pieng (Singaporean, 1917–1983), Untitled, 1963, oil on canvas, 19.75″ x 27.75″. Estimate: $15,000–$20,000
Jamini Roy (Indian, 1887–1972), Untitled (Seated Figure), 1967, gouache on paper, 21″ x 13″. Estimate: $7,000–$10,000
The Important Fall Fine Art Auction will have many other notable artists represented. One such artist is S.C. Yuan (Chinese/American, 1911–1974), who is known as one of the foremost painters of the Monterey Peninsula. The two untitled paintings in this month’s sale depict a conversation between two figures, estimated at $3,000–$5,000, and a barn, estimated at $6,000–$9,000. Both showcase the restrained palette preferred by the artist.
S.C. Yuan (American, 1911–1974), Untitled (Conversation), oil on board, 9.5″ x 11″. Estimate: $3,000–$5,000
S.C. Yuan (American, 1911–1974), Untitled (Barn), oil on canvas, 24″ x 30″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Another more contemporary California work on paper by Funk Art pioneer, Roy De Forest (American, 1930–2007), with an auction estimate of $6,000–$9,000, will be offered. De Forest was a major figure in Bay Area modern art during the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, and he was also a key member of the faculty at U.C. Davis. De Forest taught alongside fellow California icons, including Wayne Thiebaud, William T. Wiley, and Robert Arneson. Alongside this piece we will also be offering a striking work by another California artist, Sam Francis, estimated at $8,000–$12,000.
Roy De Forest (American, 1930–2007), Untitled, 2003, mixed media on paper, 40.25″ x 53.75″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
Sam Francis (American, 1923–1994), Untitled, 1963, gouache on paper, 13.75″ x 12.5″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Clars is also pleased to offer several contemporary works of sculpture which round out our diverse collection this month. Included is a work by Vivian Wang (Chinese, b. 1945) featuring a glass figure of a seated child with a red and black painted hat and outfit with an auction estimate of $3,000–$5,000. Wang began her career as a fashion designer before transitioning to fine art. She is known for glass figural sculptures that pay homage to her Chinese heritage. Another striking piece in this group is a mixed media sculpture by American artist Peter Anton (American, b. 1963) depicting an ice cream bar, valued at $4,000–$6,000. Anton is known for his hyperrealist sculptures of dessert foods. Also included in the sculpture section is an anemone-like glass cube by Wilfried Grootens (German, b. 1954) with an estimate of $3,000–$5,000 as well as a glass mime figure by Martin Janecky (Czech, b. 1980) with an estimate of $4,000–$6,000.
Bidding for Clars’ September auctions is available by phone, absentee bid, live online at Live.Clars.com and through Liveauctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Clars Auctions is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. Clars Auctions is based in Oakland (CA) and is the largest full-service auction gallery in the Western United States. Clars Auctions has been the chosen auction gallery of a number of institutions and distinguished private collectors across the country, including the Richard Mellon Scaife Estate, the Thomas J. Perkins Estate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). In the last 5 years, Clars Auctions has sold well over $500,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles and Collectibles and has set multiple new world auction records. Follow Clars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Our May 15th auction will feature a diverse and compelling selection across multiple collecting categories.
Auction
Highlights
Important Fine Art Consignments Invited!
Consignments
Fine Art
Clars is now seeking Important Fine Art consignments for our upcoming Fall auction. Schedule your private and confidential appointment now to speak to one of our Fine Art Specialists to determine your item’s auction potential.
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Visage Masque, 1947, ceramic plate, 12.5″ x 15″ (31.75 x 38.1 cm). Sold: $68,750
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Wood-Owl (Hibou des bois), 1968, partially glazed white earthenware pitcher painted in colors, 11.5″h x 8.5″w x 6″d. Sold: $27,500
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Vase deux anses hautes, 1952, white earthenware ceramic vase (partially engraved), 15″h x 9.5″w x 6.75″d. Sold: $35,215
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Plat à la Tête de Faune, 1948, partially engraved white earthenware ceramic plate with colored engobe and glaze, 12.5″ x 15.5″ x 2″. Sold: $75,600
Clars’ Important Holiday Fine Art Auction on December 18th presents an exceptional selection of artworks by celebrated artists.
Fine Art
Highlights
Property from the Estate of Professor Raymond Lifchez
Estate Spotlight
Fine Art
Clars is pleased to offer the Art & Photography Collection from the Estate of Professor Raymond Lifchez (Berkeley, California).
Lifchez was Professor Emeritus of Architecture and City & Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley for over 50 years. Lifchez made a deep and lasting impact on teaching, advocacy for accessible design and was a pioneer in incorporating accessibility/disability justice into design education.
Sally Mann (American, b. 1951), Listening to Madonna by the Tadpole Jar, 1990, gelatin silver print, 18.875″ x 22.75″. Estimate: $6,000–$9,000
John Folinsbee (American, 1892–1972), Winter Scene (Study for Snow Patches), circa 1910–1915, oil on canvas, 11.5″ x 15.5″. Estimate: $4,000–$6,000
Max Yavno (American, 1911–1985), Muscle Beach (1949), gelatin silver print, 7.81″ x 13.38″. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000
Manual Alvarez Bravo (Mexican, 1902–2002), Retrato de lo Eterno, gelatin silver print, 9.25″ x 7.25″. Estimate: $2,000–$4,000
Horst P. Horst (American/German, 1906–1999), Gertrude Stein with her Poodle (1946), gelatin silver print, later printing, 7.63″ x 7.5″. Estimate: $1,000–$2,000
Man Ray (American, 1890–1976), Portrait of Edith G. Strauss, gelatin silver print, 9″ x 6″. Estimate: $1,000–$2,000
Photographers to be featured include: Ruth Bernhard, Manual Alvarez Bravo, Harry Callahan, Robert Capa, Keith Carter, Robert Doisneau, Horst P. Horst, Michael Kenna, Joanne Leonard, Sally Mann, Nicholas Nixon, Bill Owens, Man Ray, Leo Rubinfien, Anna Draper Shaw, Garry Winogrand, and Max Yavno.
Clars’ Important Fine Art Auction on May 15th presents an exceptional selection of artworks by celebrated artists.
Fine Art
Highlights
Important Summer Fine Art Sale Highlights
Auction
Fine Art
Clars is excited to present our Important Summer Fine Art Sale on June 20th, commencing at 10 AM PDT. The sale is bursting with exceptional artwork from iconic creators such as Salvador Dalí, Roy Lichtenstein and Aaron Douglas.
One of the most exciting pieces in this month’s Important Summer Fine Art Sale is a never-before-sold oil on canvas painting by world-renowned Spanish Surrealist, Salvador Dalí. Over the course of the early to mid-twentieth century, Dalí established himself as perhaps the most celebrated of the Surrealist painters, famous for both his instantly recognizable visual style and for his eccentric personality and antics. The painting in this month’s sale, titled Portrait of Mrs. Luther Greene, is an oil on canvas that was commissioned by the sitter’s husband in New York City in 1942 — the year of the artist’s first retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art.
The portrait depicts the patron seated in the foreground, wrapped in a red robe. Behind her is a classic, Dalíesque desert landscape with two figures standing in the distance. An amorphous hill on the far right is dotted with buildings — resembling a forgotten ghost town — and a small boat sits beached by the shore on the far left. This exemplary piece is accompanied by the preliminary sketches done by the artist in preparation for the painting.
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Reverie, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965, screenprint in colors, 27″ x 23″. Estimate: $70,000–$100,000
Another noteworthy piece in the sale is a serigraph by American Pop art pioneer, Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein was one of the most prominent figures to come out of the Pop Art movement and is most known for his comic strip-inspired paintings, prints, and sculptures. The print featured in the June sale is titled Reverie and dates to 1965. Pictured is a young woman with blonde hair and a melancholy expression, holding a microphone while a speech bubble over her head reads the lyrics, “The melody haunts my reverie.” This lyric — taken from the song Stardust by Tin Pan Alley musicians Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish — was written in 1927 and popularized during the 1930s big band era. The retro feel of the imagery is characteristic of Lichtenstein’s work, as is the comic-style dot work, bold color, and thick, black lines. Reverie was created for a portfolio, titled 11 Pop Artists published by Original Editions, that included 2 other prints by the artist as well as prints by Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselman, and other major names in the Pop Art movement.
Aaron Douglas (American, 1899–1979), Untitled, circa 1955, oil on canvas, signed lower left, 22″ x 44″. Estimate: $10,000–$20,000
A third striking highlight in our sale is an oil on canvas painting by key Harlem Renaissance figure, Aaron Douglas. Douglas is widely known for the murals he was commissioned to paint in several high-profile locations. These locations included several Historically Black Colleges and Universities, the Harlem YMCA, and one of his most acclaimed works, Aspects of Negro Life, at the New York Public Library in Harlem. Douglas worked with writers Alain Locke and W.E.B. Du Bois, and had illustrations included in publications like Vanity Fair, the NAACP journal The Crisis, and Opportunity: A Journal of Negro Life among others. Douglas developed a distinctive, graphic style that combined the aesthetic exploration of modernism with more traditional African subject matter. He often used bold color and evocative light sources with leafy foliage and human figures in silhouette. These figures are at times depicted in an African village or tribal setting, dancing, holding spears, or traversing a jungle-like landscape.
In other instances, figures are shown in American cityscapes, holding industrial tools with skyscrapers looming in the distance, or playing brass instruments in bands. The work in our June sale shows three silhouetted human figures holding spears and chasing five bison-like animals through an abstracted environment that uses the interplay between color and light to mimic an earthly landscape while remaining nonobjective. Douglas’s approach marries the celebratory aspects of Harlem Renaissance figuration with an Orphism-inspired understanding of color theory that creates a composition in which movement and light become as intrinsic to the material as paint and canvas.
Karen LaMonte (American, b. 1967), Nocturne, 2015, white bronze, signed, dated and stamped on base, edition 1/5, 58.5″ x 18″ x 11″. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Barry Frydlender (Israeli, b. 1954), Take a Picture of Me, 2005, chromogenic print, 75″ x 49.5″. Estimate: $15,000–$25,000
In addition to the aforementioned works, we are also pleased to offer abstract sculptures by Claire Falkenstein, a life-size bronze gown by Karen LaMonte, a suite of six bullfighting paintings by LeRoy Neiman, an abstract expressionist oil by Tancredi Parmeggiani, and much more in our Important Summer Fine Art Sale on June 20th.
Fern Isabel Kuns Coppedge (American, 1883–1951), August Reflections, oil on canvas, signed, gallery title label (Newman Galleries, Philadelphia) affixed verso, 20″ x 24″. Estimate: $30,000–$50,000
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Homme Barbu Couronne de Feuillage, 1962, linocut, 13.5″ x 10.5″. Estimate: $25,000–$35,000
(lot of 6) LeRoy Neiman (American, 1921–2012), The Red Corrida, oils on panels, largest: 7.75″ x 11.75″. Estimate: $20,000–$30,000
(lot of 4) Claire Falkenstein (American, 1908–1998), Untitleds, set of four mixed media (glass and metal) sculptures, overall each: 3″h x 3″w x 3″d (red), 1.5″h x 2.75″w x 2.75″d (blue), 1.25″h x 3″w x 2″d (orange/red), 2″h x 4″d x 2.75″d (clear/green). Provenance: Estate of Richard D. Lowell (Fresno, California). Estimate: $20,000–$25,000
Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881–1973), Plat à la Tête de Faune, 1948, partially engraved white earthenware ceramic plate with colored engobe and glaze, 12.5″ x 15.5″ x 2″. Estimate: $10,000–$15,000
Tancredi Parmeggiani (Italian, 1927–1964), Untitled, oil on board, 16″ x 26″. Provenance: Private Collection, Auburn, CA, thence by descent to the present owner. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
John Marin (American, 1870–1953), Flatiron Building, NYC, 1911, watercolor, 12″ x 15.75″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Modern Head #5, 1970, embossed graphite with Strathmore die-cut paper overlay, 20.25″ x 11.25″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Jacqueline Gilmore (American, 21st century), Ashes to Ashes, 2016, oil on canvas, 90″ x 180″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Oscar Deveza Zalameda (Philippines, 1930–2010), Fish Market, oil on canvas, 30″ x 36″. Estimate: $8,000–$12,000
Bidding for Clars’ June auctions is available by phone, absentee bid, live online at Live.Clars.com and through Liveauctioneers.com and Invaluable.com. Clars Auction Gallery is located at 5644 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94609. Clars Auction Gallery is based in Oakland (CA) and is the largest full-service auction gallery in the Western United States. Clars Auction Gallery has been the chosen auction gallery of a number of institutions and distinguished private collectors across the country, including the Richard Mellon Scaife Estate, the Thomas J. Perkins Estate and The Metropolitan Museum of Art (NYC). In the last 5 years, Clars Auction Gallery has sold well over $150,000,000 of Fine Art, Furnishings, Jewelry, Vehicles and Collectibles and has set multiple new world auction records. Follow Clars on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!
Our May 15th auction will feature a diverse and compelling selection across multiple collecting categories.
Auction
Highlights
Aaron Douglas: The Making of a Movement’s Visual Voice
Artist Spotlight
Modern Art
The Artist Who Defined the Visual Identity of the Harlem Renaissance
When Aaron Douglas arrived in New York City in 1925, he had planned to keep moving, and Paris was the destination, as it was for so many artists of his generation. He never made it. What he found in Harlem was something more urgent: a cultural awakening in full swing, and a community of writers, thinkers, and artists who recognized in him exactly what they needed. Douglas stayed and, in doing so, became the defining visual chronicler of the Harlem Renaissance.
Aaron Douglas (American, 1899–1979), Untitled, circa 1955, oil on canvas, signed lower left, 22″ x 44″. Sold: $10,710
Born in Topeka, Kansas, on May 26, 1899, Douglas came to art with both formal training and personal conviction. He earned his fine arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1922, taught in Kansas City, and arrived in Harlem already serious about his craft. Under the mentorship of German portraitist Winold Reiss, he was pushed toward something more daring, a visual language rooted in African artistic traditions that could speak directly to the Black American experience. Douglas embraced the challenge fully, and what emerged was a style unlike anything in American art at the time.
A Style Built to Last
What makes Aaron Douglas’ paintings immediately recognizable is the deliberate tension between simplicity and complexity. His figures are rendered as flat silhouettes, stripped of individual features, yet radiating collective power. He layered concentric rings of light behind his subjects, a signature compositional device that gave his scenes an almost spiritual luminosity. Color was handled with restraint: muted earth tones, dusky blues and greens, punctuated by sharp gradients that suggested both sunlight and searchlights.
These choices weren’t aesthetic accidents. Douglas was synthesizing multiple art historical traditions simultaneously — the geometric rigor of Cubism, the decorative clarity of Art Deco, and the narrative conventions of ancient Egyptian wall painting — and filtering them through the rhythms of jazz, the imagery of the African continent, and the daily realities of Black life in America. The result was a visual vocabulary that felt both ancient and completely modern. It became, as scholars have noted, the aesthetic signature of the Harlem Renaissance itself.
His figures inhabit two worlds with equal fluency. In some works, they move through abstracted African landscapes, spear in hand, surrounded by dense foliage, beneath vast skies. In others, they navigate the urban North: playing brass instruments in jazz clubs, operating industrial machinery, marching against city skylines. Across both settings, the message is the same: people with deep roots, in motion, asserting their place in history.
Aaron Douglas’ Most Significant Accomplishments
Douglas was not simply a studio painter. He was a public artist in the fullest sense, and his most celebrated works were made for walls, not galleries.
His four-panel mural cycle Aspects of Negro Life (1934), commissioned for the Countee Cullen Branch of the New York Public Library in Harlem, is widely regarded as his masterwork. Moving from African origins through slavery, Reconstruction, and the Great Migration into the promise of the Harlem Renaissance, the series functions as both a history painting and a declaration of cultural identity. It remains one of the most ambitious works of public art produced in 20th-century America.
Aaron Douglas (1899–1979), Aspects of Negro Life: From Slavery to Reconstruction, 1934, Art and Artifacts Division, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Source: New York Public Library
Other major commissions followed: mural cycles for Fisk University’s library in Nashville (1930) and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina (1931), painted for two of the country’s most important Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Into Bondage (1936), part of a series created for the Texas Centennial Exposition, is now in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., institutional recognition that situates Douglas firmly within the canon of American art history. His works are also held by the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Beyond painting, Douglas was a prolific illustrator whose work appeared in Vanity Fair, Theatre Arts Monthly, the NAACP’s journal The Crisis, and the National Urban League’s Opportunity magazine. He illustrated landmark texts of the Harlem Renaissance, including Alain Locke’s The New Negro (1925) and James Weldon Johnson’s God’s Trombones (1927), and collaborated closely with writers including W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes. In 1935, he helped found the Harlem Artists Guild — serving as its first president — an organization that created a vital professional network for Black artists working in New York during one of the most challenging periods in American history.
Aaron Douglas, Inspiration, 1967, oil on canvas panel, 30″ × 25″. Smithsonian American Art Museum
In 1939, Douglas transitioned to education, joining the faculty at Fisk University. He would go on to found and chair the university’s Art Department in 1944, a role he held until his retirement in 1966. His influence on subsequent generations of African American artists, including Jacob Lawrence, who absorbed Douglas’ use of bold color fields, and Kara Walker, whose silhouetted figures carry forward his visual legacy, is a measure of just how far his impact reaches.
Aaron Douglas Prints, Paintings, & Works on Paper: A Collector’s Overview
For collectors looking to acquire art by Aaron Douglas, the market offers several distinct entry points.
Oils on canvas and board represent the top tier of the market and the rarest category. These works — particularly those that showcase his characteristic silhouetted figures, layered light effects, and signature palette — command the strongest prices at auction. The auction record for a Douglas painting stands at $500,000, achieved at Swann Auction Galleries in 2008 for Building More Stately Mansions. Works from his peak Harlem Renaissance period (1920s–1930s) attract the most sustained collector interest, though accomplished late-career paintings also perform well.
Works on paper and prints offer a more accessible entry into the market. Douglas produced a body of etchings and aquatints, often in small editions, that allow collectors to acquire his draftsmanship and compositional intelligence at a lower price point than his oils. Artist proofs and documented impressions with clear provenance are especially sought after.
Illustrations and published works — original drawings made for books and periodicals represent another collecting category, often surfacing at auction alongside Harlem Renaissance literature and archival material.
Across all fine art departments, provenance connected to the Harlem Renaissance community, documented exhibition history, and strong signature placement all contribute meaningfully to value.
Aaron Douglas at Clars Auctions
Clars Auctions has handled Aaron Douglas’ work at auction, and we understand both the significance of these pieces and what collectors are looking for when they come to market. Among the works we have offered is an Untitled oil on canvas (circa 1955, 22″ × 44″, signed lower left), a large-format late-career painting that demonstrates Douglas’ sustained command of abstracted landscape, figure composition, and the interplay of color and light that defines his best work. The painting was offered in our Important Summer Fine Art Sale, with an estimate of $10,000–$20,000 (sold for $10,710), and drew serious collector interest.
For Buyers
Authentic Aaron Douglas paintings, prints, and works on paper appear at auction far less often than collector demand would suggest. When they do, they rarely last. If you are building a collection in American modernism or Harlem Renaissance art, we recommend reviewing our current catalog and auction calendar to see when a Douglas work enters one of our sales.
If you own a work by Aaron Douglas, whether a painting, print, illustration, or work on paper, Clars Auctions is well-positioned to help you understand its value and bring it to the right buyers. Our fine art specialists offer professional appraisals for fair market, insurance, and estate purposes, and our established reputation in American and African American art means your consignment reaches a serious, targeted collector base. We work with individual sellers, estate executors, fiduciaries, and institutions, and we handle every step of the process with care. You may also contact us or visit us at our auction house in Oakland if you have any questions.
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.
Marion Kavanaugh Wachtel beautifully captures the vibrant transformation of the leaves in the foothills of California.
Artist Spotlight
Fine Art
Artist Spotlight: Roy Lichtenstein
Artist Spotlight
Modern + Contemporary
A noteworthy piece in our Important Summer Fine Art Sale is a serigraph by American Pop art pioneer, Roy Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein was one of the most prominent figures to come out of the Pop Art movement and is most known for his comic strip-inspired paintings, prints, and sculptures.
The print featured in the June sale is titled Reverie and dates to 1965. Pictured is a young woman with blonde hair and a melancholy expression, holding a microphone while a speech bubble over her head reads the lyrics, “The melody haunts my reverie.” This lyric — taken from the song Stardust by Tin Pan Alley musicians Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish — was written in 1927 and popularized during the 1930s big band era. The retro feel of the imagery is characteristic of Lichtenstein’s work, as is the comic-style dot work, bold color, and thick, black lines. Reverie was created for a portfolio, titled 11 Pop Artists published by Original Editions, that included 2 other prints by the artist as well as prints by Andy Warhol, Tom Wesselman, and other major names in the Pop Art movement.
Roy Lichtenstein (American, 1923–1997), Reverie, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II, 1965, screenprint in colors, 27″ x 23″. Estimate: $70,000–$100,000
In addition to the aforementioned work, we are also pleased to offer abstract sculptures by Claire Falkenstein, a life-size bronze gown by Karen LaMonte, a suite of six bullfighting paintings by LeRoy Neiman, an abstract expressionist oil by Tancredi Parmeggiani, and much more in our Important Summer Fine Art Sale on June 20th.
Annie Leibovitz began her artistic career at the San Francisco Art Institute in the late 1960s, where she originally studied painting but was inspired to change her focus to photography.