Works attributed to modern masters in Woodshed auction Aug. 9

FRANKLIN, Mass. – Paintings attributed to fine art superstars Andy Warhol, Claude Monet and Franz Kline are just a few of the tantalizing offerings in Woodshed Art Auctions’ upcoming Impressionist, Pop & Modern Art Auction planned for Thursday, Aug. 9, starting at 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

The auction will feature rare and new-to-the-market paintings and drawings from private collections in Europe and the Americas, including large canvasses signed Jackson Pollock, Helen Frankenthaler, Willem de Kooning and Oswaldo Guayasamin. Other prime works include sketches and paintings attributed to Vincent van Gogh, Warhol, Wifredo Lam, Monet, Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Jean-Michel Basquiat and many others.

“The catalog presents a survey of the styles made famous by the most influential artists of the Impressionist, Pop and Modern eras,” said Bruce Wood, the owner of Woodshed Art Auctions.

The work attributed to Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987) is an 11 inch-square stylized rendering of the Mobilgas logo, executed with acrylic paint on heavy paper and signed on the reverse (est. $30,000-$50,000). Warhol created a series of paintings and prints based on iconic logos, including the Mobilgas sign. This painting is a possible study for a larger work.

The painting done in the manner of Claude Monet (French, 1840-1926), is a diminutive tempera on paper work titled Poplars (est. $50,000-$80,000). For much of 1891 Monet worked on a series of paintings depicting the tall, thin poplar trees that lined the River Epte, near his home at Giverny, France. This painting, signed and with pencil indications, is a possible color study for that series.

The painting attributed to Franz Kline (American, 1910-1962) is a signed abstract composition in a 50½-inch by 42½-inch frame (est. $60,000-$80,000). Kline, known for his bold compositions in black and white, later produced color abstractions. This work, believed to be a transitional piece, has strong black lines, an armature to the painting’s energetic strokes of amber and brown.

Warhol is represented several times in the auction. A crayon sketch on thin tan paper, titled Chairman Mao, signed and dated “’75” on the unframed 11¼-inch by 9½-inch image, should bring $80,000-$120,000; while an acrylic and graphite on canvas titled Tomato Soup, unframed and signed, should hit $50,000-$80,000. Both are attributions, due to a lack of documentation.

An oil on illustration board attributed to the Pop Art forefather Stuart Davis (American, 1892-1964), titled Champion, signed lower left and 12 inches by 16½ inches in the frame, has an estimate of $50,000-$80,000.

An untitled oil on board maritime scene done in the manner of William Henry Johnson (American, 1901-1970) should realize $35,000-$45,000.

A gouache on paper attributed to Fernand Leger (French, 1881-1955), titled Female Faces, 15½ inches by 11 inches unframed and signed with initials, should hit $20,000-$30,000.

Several paintings have a realistic chance of soaring to six figures. They are as follows:

– An abstract oil on canvas Portrait of a Woman attributed to Willem de Kooning (Dutch, 1904-1997), signed bottom right and sizable at 51 inches by 39¼ inches (est. $150,000-$250,000). It was formerly the property out of an estate in Peru.

– An untitled (Fear) oil on canvas painting attributed to Ecuadorian artist Oswaldo Guayasamin (1919-1999), signed bottom right and even larger at 52 inches by 65 inches (est. $120,000-$150,000). From the same estate in Peru as the de Kooning.

– A framed oil on canvas painted in the manner of the late Pop Art icon Jean-Michel Basquiat (American, 1960-1988), titled Portrait of a Skeletal Man with Crown (est. $100,000-$150,000). Verso signed, marked with the artist’s monogram, dated ’82.

For details contact Wood at 508-533-6277 or bruce@woodshedartauctions.com.