Endre Tót

The work comprises of two canvases of equal size held in one frame. There are light surface scratches in places and a light covering of surface dirt. There is a diagonal scuff mark on the left canvas. There are light handling marks along the edges. There are minor paint losses to the frame. Held in a white painted wooden frame.
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Tót's easel work occupies a special place in the canon of Eastern European post-war abstract art. In Untitled Diptych his pared down, minimalist style hints at the conceptual art practice he began to develop in the early 1970s, and which eventually led to a complete break with easel painting. This work exemplifies minimal abstract art for its emphasis on simplicity, order and the harmony of shape, line and colour. Such works were a direct challenge to existing art values of the time in Hungary which was dominated by Socialist Realism. In the early 1970s Tót became involved with the Fluxus movement and quickly became seen as a leading figure in Eastern European conceptual art. Like many of his contemporaries, restricted and repressed by the Communist regime, Tót eventually left Hungary. He received a DAAD scholarship and moved to Berlin for a year and a half before settling in Cologne in 1980. His work has been recently exhibited at the Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris), Garage Museum of Contemporary Art (Moscow) and MoMA (New York) and is held in several major public art collections, including the Tate Gallery (London), the J. Paul Getty Museum (Los Angeles) and the Neue Nationalgalerie (Berlin).