Friday, August 12, 2011

Vénus Bleue

This famous limited edition sculpture Vénus Bleue by Yves Klein, his best known, commands a huge premium at auction. It's hard to believe that there are 350 of these given the price it is expected to fetch. The sculpture was conceived in 1962, the year of Klein's death. This one is being sold on September 6 by Christie's Amsterdam. Nobody does blue like Yves Klein.

Yves Klein (1928-1962)

La Vénus d'Alexandrie (Vénus Bleue)

Lot Description

Yves Klein (1928-1962) La Vénus d'Alexandrie (Vénus Bleue) with the edition stamp and numbered '212/300' (on the underside); numbered '212/300' (on the lower left leg)dry blue pigment on synthetic resin plaster 68 cm. high

Conceived in 1962, this work is number two hundred-twelve from an edition of three hundred plus fifty Hors Commerces

Literature

P. Wember, Yves Klein, Catalogue raisonné, Cologne, 1969, No. S41 (the original illustrated p. 100).P. Restany, Yves Klein, Paris, 1982 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 204).Yves Klein, Catalogue d'exposition, Cologne, Museum Ludwig; Düsseldorf, Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen; London, Hayward Gallery; Madrid, Museo Nacional Centro Arte Reina Sofia; 1994-1995, No. 111 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 247).Yves Klein, Catalogue d'exposition, Oslo, National Museum of Contemporary Art; Tampere, Sara Hilden Art Museum; Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art; 1997-1998, No. 66 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 79).Yves Klein, Catalogue d'exposition, Lisbonne, Galeria Antonio Prates, 1998 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 5).J.-P. Ledeur, Yves Klein, Catalogue raisonné des éditions et des sculptures dites, Knokke-le-Zoute, 2000, No. S41 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 234).

N. Charlet, Yves Klein, Paris, 2000 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 231).

Yves Klein, La Vie, la vie elle-meme qui est l'art absolu. Catalogue d'exposition, Nice, Museé d'Art Moderne et d'Art Contemporain; Prato, Museo Pecci; 2000-2001 (another one from the edition illustrated p. 183)