Lot 38
  • 38

Mathías Goeritz (1915-1990)

Estimate
200,000 - 250,000 USD
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Description

  • Mathías Goeritz
  • Untitled
  • signed on the reverse
  • gold leaf on wood panel
  • 27 5/8 by 27 5/8 by 4 1/2 in.
  • 70.2 by 70.2 by 11.4 cm
  • Executed circa 1970.

Provenance

A gift from the artist
Sale: Bonhams, New York, Contemporary Art, May 13, 2014, lot 49, illustrated in color
Private Collection, Mexico City

Condition

The sculpture is in very good condition. The highly burnished gilded surface is in very good condition considering its age and fragility with the exception of the right top corner where the corner has been restored. Several scratches in the gold were noted on the front of the panel. The largest scratch being 3” long with three smaller scratches nearby each around 1 ½ “ long. Anomalies in the gilding can be seen throughout the surface where the artist has re-gilded small areas (holidays) that were missed. This is an inherent feature of the panel and characteristic of a gilded surface. The gold is slightly worn on some of the edges revealing the red clay layer below. Minor losses in gold along the bottom edge have been toned so they are less noticeable. A previous abrasion on the top back corner of the panel has been in-gilded. Tiny specks of paint were noticed on the top of the panel. (This condition report has been prepared courtesy of Wilson Conservation, LLC)
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Catalogue Note

"Estoy harto de la pretenciosa imposición de la lógica y la razón, del funcionalismo del cálculo decorativo y, desde luego, de toda la pornografía caótica del individualismo, de la gloria del dia, de la moda del momento, de la vanidad y la ambición, del bluff y de la broma artística, del consciente y subconsciente egocentrismo, de los conceptos inflados, de la aburridísima propaganda de los ismos y de los istas, figurativos y abstractos. Harto también del griterío de un arte de la deformación, de las manchas, de los trapos viejos y pedazos de basura; harto del preciosismo de una estética invertida que festeja la exteriorizada belleza de lo destruido y podrido; harto de todas esas texturas interesantes y de los juegos vacíos de una educación puramente visual o táctil.

No menos harto estoy de la abundante ausencia de la sensibilidad que, con dogmas oportunistas, sigue presumiendo, todavía, de ser capaz de sacar jugo a la copia o a la estilización de una realidad heroicamente vulgar. Estoy harto, sobretodo, de la atmósfera artificial e histérica del llamado mundo artístico, con sus placeres adulterados. Quisiera que una silla sea una silla, tal y cual, sin toda la enfermiza mistificación inventada en torno suyo. Estoy harto de mi propio yo que me repugna más que nunca cuando me veo arrastrado por la aplastante ola de arte menor y cuando siento mi profunda impotencia.

Estoy convencido, por fin, que la belleza plástica, en la actualidad, se presenta con más vigor donde menos interviene el llamado artista.

Habrá que rectificar a fondo los valores establecidos: Creer sin preguntar en qué! Hacer o, por lo menos, intentar que la obra del hombre se convierta en UNA ORACIÓN PLÁSTICA.

Mathías Goeritz

“Advertencia a la crítica”, Arquitectura México, Mexico City, 16, no. 72, Septiembre 1960, p 230