Lot 90
  • 90

Sohrab Sepehri

Estimate
90,000 - 120,000 USD
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Description

  • Sohrab Sepehri
  • Untitled (Abstract Series)
  • signed in Farsi 
  • oil on board 
  • 66.5 by 98cm.; 26 1/4 by 38 1/2 in.
  • Executed circa 1970.

Provenance

Acquired directly by the present owner from the artist circa 1970

Condition

Condition: This work is in very good condition. There is a very small and barely visible medium loss on centre top and centre, only visible upon inspection. There is no restoration apparent when viewed under the UV light. Colour: The catalogue illustration is very accurate, with the green and blue hues being much more vibrant in the original work.
"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."

Catalogue Note

Sotheby’s is delighted to present a vibrant and prestigious selection of Middle-Eastern works from the remarkable collection of Ms. Khonsari. A friend and patron to artists wherever she travelled, Khonsari’s eclectic taste encompasses all manner of works, from Cubist and Impressionist masterpieces to Islamic treasures from the Ottoman Empire.  She nurtured her singular vision over extended stays in Geneva and Paris, and was always at the centre of the artistic and intellectual circles in the region. This is the first time that the present works have been offered at auction, and all boast exceptional provenance.  Each of the four works offered were acquired directly from their respective artists by the collector, who counted Abolghassem Saidi, Hossein Kazemi and Sohrab Sepehri among her close friends. These pieces have since remained in her collection.

The works are united in that they are early, largely atypical works for the artists in question. Saidi’s oeuvre is widely known for its graceful, twinkling depiction of trees in glowing, crystalline landscapes, but the present work has the unusual sketchbook-quality of a draughtsman working out a new motif. The work is a rare, developmental example of Saidi’s most favoured subject. In a similar vein, the richly layered colours of Mohsen Vaziri’s Untitled are composed more freely and lavishly than his later geometric abstractions.  Jazeh Tabatabai’s bright, densely patterned work represents a moment in the artist’s career prior to the simplification of his compositions to strongly delineated, individual figures. The naïve elements of the work, coupled with the playful use of colour and labyrinthine aesthetic truly distinguish this piece in artist’s oeuvre. Kazemi’s work is equally divergent in its muted palette, and belongs to his early experiments with cubism and figuration.

The highlight of this distinguished collection of works is undeniably the extraordinary abstract composition by Sohrab Sepehri, Untitled (Abstract Series). While the artist has become known for his sensitive and nuanced study of trees and his native landscape of rural Iran, the present work is one taken from his series of abstractions. The remarkable, energetic use of colour is unusual for artist, yet the persistent verticality and inky palette of the piece suggests the quiet and enduring influence of the Japanese old masters and the wooded settings Sepehri knew so well.

It is a privilege to offer these outstanding works at Sotheby’s inaugural sale in Dubai. The rarity of collections such as this, which are marked by the avant-garde and cohesive vision of the collector, make these pieces truly unique.