Modern paintings, drawings and graphics

For many, Escher is the master of illusions. A magician on paper who captivates you with his impossible constructions and wondrous metamorphoses. What he creates cannot exist. Even if you see it with your own eyes. Yet, that is not always the case. Escher was indeed fascinated by the illusions the flat surface could conjure, but sometimes he also simply wanted to show the beauty in reality. Three Worlds is one of the finest examples of this. The reflective surface in Three Worlds seemingly does nothing more than reflect reality. But a reality composed of three worlds. A world above the water (the three trees), a world on the water (the leaves), and a world in the water (the fish). The lithograph we are offering is one from the numbered first edition and is therefore extremely rare (6825).

The Parisian cityscape (6835) in this auction is by Karel Chevallier, the uncle of Karel Appel and a key figure in Appel’s early encounter with art. Chavallier was Appel’s mother’s brother and introduced the young Karel to the art world.

Martha Cooper photographed the emerging graffiti and hip-hop scene in New York in the 1970s and 1980s. She captured colorful graffiti on subway cars and documented the lives of artists like Dondi and Lady Pink. Her photos show not only the art itself but also the street culture surrounding it. With her book “Subway Art,” she achieved worldwide fame and influenced generations of graffiti artists. We are offering a rare series of her original prints from the 1980s (6833).

Ablade Glover (born 1934) is a Ghanaian artist known for his vibrant paintings of cityscapes, markets, and everyday life in West Africa. His work is notable for its use of thick paint textures and bright colors, often painted with a palette knife. Glover combines abstraction and realism to capture the energy of African cities. He is also the founder of the Artist Alliance Gallery in Accra and is internationally acclaimed. In this auction, we offer four of his paintings (6994).

Wim T. Schippers is an influential Dutch artist known for his absurdist and conceptual work. In the 1960s, he made a name for himself with actions like scattering salt in the sea, challenging the art world. He drew inspiration from Dadaism and Fluxus, and used humor, language play, and absurdity as artistic tools. Schippers also made his television breakthrough with programs like The Fred Haché Show and Van Oekel’s Discohoek, which combined art and satire. His work deliberately blurs the lines between high and low culture. As an artist, writer, and creator of iconic figures, he has had a lasting influence on Dutch visual culture. The painting titled “Barend Servet,” which we are offering in this auction, was purchased by the current owner from the collection of Jan des Bouvrie (6815).