A selection of highlights from our forthcoming auction.

 Auction Highlights

The collaboration between European and American artists, printers, and publishers throughout the 20th and 21st century has been a transformative force in printmaking. The exchange of ideas, techniques, and artistic visions has not only fostered creativity and innovation but an artistic dialogue that shapes the trajectory of art history to this day. After World War II, Europe underwent a process of rebuilding and cultural rejuvenation. American artists, such as Robert Rauschenberg and Jasper Johns, played a crucial role in introducing innovative printmaking techniques and ideas to European artists. At the same time, European artists brought their own unique perspectives and artistic traditions to the table. The German expressionist movement, with its emphasis on emotional intensity and bold use of color, captivated American artists and influenced their work. Traditional printmaking techniques such as the woodcut, found fertile ground in American art circles. The exchange of technical expertise, the sharing of studio spaces, and the establishment of joint printmaking workshops created a supportive environment for creative exploration and allowed creators to push the boundaries of the medium. The impact of this collaboration can also be witnessed in the artistic movements that emerged during this period. Pop Art, which found its roots both in Great Britain and the United States, relied heavily on the exchange of ideas and cross-cultural interaction. Artists like Andy Warhol and Allen Jones embraced the language of popular culture, consumerism, and mass media, which transcended geographical borders.

 Transatlantic Collaboration

Building on a long tradition of fine art printmaking in Northern Europe, German and Austrian artists of the early 20th century revived modern interest in the graphic arts.&nbsp; Social and political turmoil from the turn of the century onwards inspired artists from Dresden to Vienna to push the boundaries of printmaking as a means of expression.&nbsp; From the birth of Expressionism circa 1905 to the development of Die Brücke and Der Blaue Reiter, then New Objectivity, this era was one of unparalleled experimentation on paper.&nbsp; With a varied selection of woodcuts, etchings, drypoints, and lithographs by Austro-German makers, Sotheby’s first-ever dedicated Prints &amp; Multiples sale in Cologne surveys the modern printmaking resurgence and explores its continued influence with contemporary editions by world-renowned artists such as Gerhard Richter and A. R. Penck.

German and Austrian Printmakers

Cologne

Head of Prints, Europe

Yessica Marks

Head of Sale

Charlotte North

Deputy Director | Specialist

Jennifer Strotz

Director, Specialist Impressionist, Modern & Contemporary Art, Head of Fine Art Sales Germany

Cataloguer, Impressionist, Modern & Contemporary Art

Christine Senft

Senior Pre-Sale Coordinator

Valérie Lienhart

Meet our Specialists

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Sotheby’s Cologne is pleased to present its first-ever online sale dedicated to Prints &amp; Multiples in Germany. This auction features the work of prominent printmakers from the turn of the 20th century to the present day and will be open for bidding 22-29 June 2023.