Munich (kk) - After outstanding results were achieved with works by Surikov1) and Lebedev2) late in October, Vladimir Georgievich Bechteyev’s "Die Kurtisane" ["The Courtesan"] is to go under the hammer at Ketterer Kunst carrying an estimate of € 110,000-130,000. The work is one of the top lots of some 300 to be sold at the auction of Modern Art amp; Post War at the HVB Forum, Kardinal-Faulhaber-Strasse 1, Munich, on December 5, 2006.

Measuring 93 x 153.5 cm, the 1910 Vladimir Georgievich Bechteyev oil painting is a paraphrase of one of the most important French paintings of the 19th century: Édouard Manet’s "Olympia". He, however, aimed at shocking viewers with the nakedness of the reclining figure whereas Bechteyev pursued an entirely different intention two generations later:

"Die Kurtisane" ["The Courtesan"] also presents herself unabashedly to the public but without making eye contact. The model and her companions are lost in reverie and no interaction disturbs their dreamy absence of mind. Moreover, the Moscow artist chose a different palette, making the entire canvas pulse with intense colours unlike Manet’s light-and-shade contrast.

Much of Bechteyev’s œuvre has been lost but the Lenbachhaus in Munich owns an important collection of works from his Munich days.

Alongside works by Marc Chagall, Alexei von Jawlensky and Wassily Kandinsky et al., other Russian works featured at the forthcoming auction include Alexandra Exter’s "Stilleben mit Krug und Flasche" ["Still Life with Jug and Bottle"] (estimate: € 30,000-40,000) in tempera and the 1943 Natalia Sergeievna Goncharova oil painting "Blumenstillleben mit blauer Vase" ["Flower Still Life with Blue Vase"] (estimate: € 15,000-20,000).

Hamburg, Ketterer Kunst, Meßberg 1
Nov.17          10 am-6 pm
Nov.18-19     11 am-5 pm
Nov.20-22     10 am-6 pm

Berlin, Ketterer Kunst, Fasanenstr. 70
Nov.24         11 am-6 pm
Nov.25-26    11 am-4 pm
Nov.27         11 am-6 pm
Nov.28         11 am-5 pm

All works can be viewed at Ketterer Kunst, Prinzregentenstrasse 61 in Munich:
Nov.30         6 pm-8 pm
Dec.01         10am-6 pm
Dec.02-03    11 am-5 pm
Dec.04         10 am-5 pm

Since it was founded in 1954, Ketterer Kunst has been firmly established in the front ranks of auction houses dealing in art and rare books. While our Munich headquarters in the Prinz-Alfons-Palais is responsible for the two traditional annual auctions of Modern Art & Post War, the Meßberghof in Hamburg is the venue for two auctions a year each based on the following fields: Old Masters and Art of the 19th Century/Marine Art and Rare Books - Autographs - Manuscripts - Decorative Prints as well as Modern Art & Post War, with a focus on works on paper. In addition, exhibitions, special auctions and benefit auctions for charity are regular events at Ketterer Kunst.

Hamburg, November 6, 2006

1)Vasili Ivanovich Surikov: “Tanz um das goldene Kalb” [“Dance round the Golden Calf”]: estimate: € 8,000; sale price: € 79,000 2) Klavdiy V. Lebedev: “PortrÄt eines Jungen mit blondem Haar” [“Portrait of a Youth with Fair Hair”]: estimate: € 15,000; sale price: € 35,000