PBA Galleries presents modernism in art and design April 4

Josef Albers, ‘Formulation: Articulation,’ Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1972, two volumes. 127 color screenprints on 66 sheets edition limited to 1,000 copies. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. PBA Galleries image

SAN FRANCISCO – On Thursday, April 4, PBA Galleries will offer a sale of Art & Illustration, Prints & Graphics, Illustrated Books and Miscellanea. The auction will feature over 260 lots featuring the styles of high modernism in art and design. Represented are the schools of Orphism, Bauhaus, Op Art, Pop Art and COBRA. Included are paintings drawings, prints, artist’s books, and works by classic illustrators. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

On the auction block will be limited-edition prints, artist’s books and etchings. Highlights include Formation: Articulation (1972), a lovely complete set of color screen prints by influential Bauhaus emigre Josef Albers, who taught Robert Rauschenberg, Eva Hesse, Cy Twombley and Max Bill (est. $10,000-$15,000). Also in the sale will be an early artist’s book from Enrique Chagoya. The Bread of Days / El Pan de los Dias from the Yolla Bolly Press is one of 12 books produced with a suite of 12 unbound etchings by Chagoya (est. $3,000-$5,000). David Hockney’s In an Old Book, a signed etching inspired by poet C.P. Cavafy, is one of only 75 (est. $2,000-$3,000).

Early artist’s book from Enrique Chagoya. PBA Galleries image

Illustrated fine press books include Jamie Baldridge’s fantastical The Everywhere Chronicles, a surrealistic steam-punk powered flight of the imagination in a deluxe folio from 21st Editions (est. $3,000-$5,000).

Deluxe folio from 21st Editions. PBA Galleries image. PBA Galleries image

Artist Jim Dine’s dream of the apocalypse is printed by Arion Press in The Apocalypse. The Revelation of Saint John. The Last Book of the New Testament. Strikingly realized with 29 woodblock prints by the artist, the book is one of 15 hors de commerce copies (est. $3,000-$5,000).

Jim Dine’s dream of the apocalypse, Arion Press. PBA Galleries image

Other artwork in the auction includes John James Audubon’s Uria Brunnicii, or Thick-Billed Mulle, plate CCXLV from the double elephant folio edition of The Birds of America (est. $3,000-$5,000). From Salinas to Broadway, PBA Galleries will offer eight original gouache paintings and three posters – variant trial versions of a theater poster for Oscar Serlin’s play based on John Steinbeck’s The Moon is Down (est. $3,000-$5,000).