Fernand Léger

Emile Armbruster, Paris (acquired directly from the artist) 
Private collection (by descent from the above)
Jeffrey H. Loria, New York (acquired from the above)
Acquired from the above by the late owner on 9th November 2012

           

Executed on cream wove paper laid down on card, hinged to the mount at two points along the upper edge. There are two faint marks from a previous mounting on the reverse along the upper edge. The sheet is lightly time-stained and slighly undulating. There are some faint handling marks along the edges. There are a few very faint scattered spots of foxing and some isolated fly-spots. This work is in overall very good condition. Please note that the yellows are slightly richer than in the printed catalogue illustration.
"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."

From the Estate of a Private Swedish Collector, Composition avec profil relates to an oil on canvas Composition avec profil, 1926, 139 x 97 cm, currently displayed at the Von der Heydt Museum in Wuppertal.

With other important works such as an Untitled Blue Monochrome (IKB 217) by Yves Klein, Composition avec profil exists as lasting tribute to the life of a discerning connoisseur. It features paintings, drawings and sculptures by from Surrealist, Modernist and Contemporary artists. These works commemorate the life of a private art-lover; an individual whose acquisitive tendencies were moulded by his personal network.

However, this collection is also reflective of an entire generation of Swedish connoisseurs and it encapsulates post-war Scandinavian taste. The Moderna Museet – Stockholm's first contemporary art museum – was founded in 1958 and its early exhibitions and opening rounds of acquisition, led by the legendary curator Pontus Hultén, played a considerable role in shaping the tastes of these new collectors. Indeed, there are numerous parallels between the works in the present collection such as works by Klein, Calder, Niki de Saint-Phalle but also Fernand Léger, Max Ernst, Henri Laurens and works shown in Moderna Museet during its opening years.