DROUOT ESTIMATIONS - Norman Bluhm, precursor of the “all-over” in France
Friday 22 June 2018
On the upcoming 22 June, in a modern art sale, auction house Drouot Estimations will feature the work of Norman BLUHM (1921-1999), an important artist from the Parisian art scene in the fifties, who was surrounded by Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell and Jean-Paul Riopelle. The four works of art which will be offered come from the former collection of Michel Robinet, the artist’s relative. The ensemble is estimated between €191,000 and €265,000.
Norman Bluhm was born in Chicago in 1921. He began studying architecture along with Mies Van der Rohe at the Armour Institute of Technology of Chicago and gave it up, after World War II, for arts. He then got into the “Academia de Belle Arte” in Florence and later settled in Paris to follow courses at the “École des Beaux-Arts”.
He lived in the capital of the arts from 1948 to 1956. He got close to Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Zao Wou-Ki. Influenced by the work of Jackson Pollock and De Kooning, he progressively dedicated his work to the all-over, a technique consisting in covering the canvas and removing any depth of field. He first experimented it throughout abstract landscapes painted in the spirit of Sam Francis’. He then stood out by integrating a more explicit skyline in his compositions.
In 1961, he went back to live in the United States. The end of this decade was marked by his increasing interest for color and his compositions responding to a more and more asserted axial symmetry.
From the eighties, his experimental work led to polyptychs representing complex shapes and colors evocating bowels.
In 1964, Norman Bluhm participated in the 64th American Exhibition: Paintings/Sculpture at The Art Institute of Chicago and in the XXe Salon de mai at the Museum of Modern Art of Paris. From then, he has been the subject of numerous books, and a solo exhibition took place in 2007 at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston; The Late Paintings of Norman Bluhm.
Auction – Drouot – Room 5
Friday 22 June – 2pm
Public exhibition – Drouot – Room 5
Tuesday 21 June – 11am / 9pm Friday 22 June – 11am / 12pm
Norman Bluhm was born in Chicago in 1921. He began studying architecture along with Mies Van der Rohe at the Armour Institute of Technology of Chicago and gave it up, after World War II, for arts. He then got into the “Academia de Belle Arte” in Florence and later settled in Paris to follow courses at the “École des Beaux-Arts”.
He lived in the capital of the arts from 1948 to 1956. He got close to Sam Francis, Joan Mitchell, Jean-Paul Riopelle and Zao Wou-Ki. Influenced by the work of Jackson Pollock and De Kooning, he progressively dedicated his work to the all-over, a technique consisting in covering the canvas and removing any depth of field. He first experimented it throughout abstract landscapes painted in the spirit of Sam Francis’. He then stood out by integrating a more explicit skyline in his compositions.
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| Norman BLUHM (1921-1999) Still life, circa 1950. Oil on canvas. Estimate: €6,000-8,000 | Norman BLUHM (1921-1999) Green & blue, 1953. Oil on canvas. Estimate: €30,000-50,000 | Norman BLUHM (1921-1999) Firecracker, 1958. OIl on canvas. Estimate: €150,000-200,000 |
In 1961, he went back to live in the United States. The end of this decade was marked by his increasing interest for color and his compositions responding to a more and more asserted axial symmetry.
From the eighties, his experimental work led to polyptychs representing complex shapes and colors evocating bowels.
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| Norman BLUHM (1921-1999) Untitled pink background, 1973. Acrylic on paper pasted on thin canvas. Estimate: €5,000-7,000 |
In 1964, Norman Bluhm participated in the 64th American Exhibition: Paintings/Sculpture at The Art Institute of Chicago and in the XXe Salon de mai at the Museum of Modern Art of Paris. From then, he has been the subject of numerous books, and a solo exhibition took place in 2007 at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston; The Late Paintings of Norman Bluhm.
Auction – Drouot – Room 5
Friday 22 June – 2pm
Public exhibition – Drouot – Room 5
Tuesday 21 June – 11am / 9pm Friday 22 June – 11am / 12pm
