Posición: 2• WOMAN III (1952-53)

• Willem De Kooning

• Fecha de venta: 6 de noviembre del 2006

• $ 137,500,000.00 dls.

• Vendido por David Geffen a Steven A. Cohen.

• Steven A. Cohen

• Net Worth: $6.8 billions of dollars

• Has spent an estimated $600 million on works by Warhol, Picasso, Pollock for large art collection.

• Forbes 2006

Willem de Kooning (1904 – 1997)

• Fue un artista nacido en Rotterdam, que estudió en Europa y que llegó a Estados Unidos en 1926.

• Ya era bien conocido en tiempos posteriores a la Segunda Guerra Mundial , perteneciendo a los movimientos de Expresionismo Abstracto, Pintura de Acción y a la llamada Escuela de Nueva York.

• De Kooning había pintado mujeres regularmente en los 40’s.

• Las figuras biomórficas de sus abstracciones tempranas fueron derivadas de objetos encontrados en su estudio.

• Pero no fue hasta 1950 que empezó a explorar exclusivamente el sujeto de mujeres.

• En el verano de ese año inició la primer pintura de la serie que acabaría en 1953, al terminar la sexta obra de esta etapa.

• Woman III es parte de una serie de seis pinturas hechas por de Kooning entre 1951 y 1953.

• Óleo sobre tela 1.7 m x 1.2 m.

• Gagosian Gallery

• Woman III formaba parte de la colección del prestigiado Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art desde su inauguración en 1977 hasta la revolución iraní en 1979.

• A partir de ese año, se mantuvo, al igual que la magnífica colección de arte contemporáneo occidental, en el sótano del museo, por cuestiones de seguridad tanto como de censura.

• "Woman III," es la única pieza faltante de dicha colección.

• En 1994, fue intercambiada de manera discreta por los restos de un exquisito manuscrito persa del siglo 16.

the new york times

Landmark De Kooning Crowns Collection Landmark De Kooning Crowns Collection by CAROL VOGELby CAROL VOGEL

Published: November 18, 2006Published: November 18, 2006

• As records were being broken at As records were being broken at contemporary art auctions this week, the contemporary art auctions this week, the hedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen hedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen privately scooped up a de Kooning “Woman” privately scooped up a de Kooning “Woman” painting for roughly $137.5 million, adding to painting for roughly $137.5 million, adding to the prestige of a personal collection that is the prestige of a personal collection that is fast becoming one of the world’s greatest.fast becoming one of the world’s greatest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/arts/design/18pain.html?ex=1321506000&en=9406bad47cfaf903&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

the new york times

• Mr. Cohen bought the 1952-53 oil on Mr. Cohen bought the 1952-53 oil on canvas, “Woman III,” directly from the canvas, “Woman III,” directly from the entertainment magnate and megacollector entertainment magnate and megacollector David David GeffenGeffen, who in the last two months , who in the last two months has emerged as equally prolific in selling his has emerged as equally prolific in selling his contemporary masterpieces.contemporary masterpieces.

• It is the last painting in de Kooning’s It is the last painting in de Kooning’s “Women” series still in private hands. “Women” series still in private hands. – ““This is arguably the most important postwar This is arguably the most important postwar

painting that is not in a museum,” Sandy Heller, painting that is not in a museum,” Sandy Heller, an art adviser to Mr. Cohen, said yesterday. “We an art adviser to Mr. Cohen, said yesterday. “We were in the right place at the right time. It’s our were in the right place at the right time. It’s our good fortune.” good fortune.”

the new york times

• Mr. Cohen, 50, has amassed a vast Mr. Cohen, 50, has amassed a vast collection over the last six years that collection over the last six years that ranges from a Manet self-portrait to one ranges from a Manet self-portrait to one of Jackson Pollock’s classic drip of Jackson Pollock’s classic drip paintings to Damien Hirst’s infamous paintings to Damien Hirst’s infamous shark submerged in a tank of shark submerged in a tank of formaldehyde. formaldehyde.

“La imposibilidad física de la muerte en la mente de alguien vivo”

• La respuesta de Hirst a aquellos que dicen que cualquiera pudo haber hecho esta pieza: • “Pero no lo hicieron, verdad? ".

the new york times

• Only last month he purchased a different de Kooning from Only last month he purchased a different de Kooning from Mr. Geffen, a 1955 landscape titled “Police Gazette,” for Mr. Geffen, a 1955 landscape titled “Police Gazette,” for $63.5 million.$63.5 million.

• Mr. Geffen, who has been collecting art for decades, is Mr. Geffen, who has been collecting art for decades, is known to have raised about $421 million in four private art known to have raised about $421 million in four private art sales since the beginning of October. sales since the beginning of October.

• The rapid-fire deals have fueled speculation that he is The rapid-fire deals have fueled speculation that he is considering a bid for The Los Angeles Times. considering a bid for The Los Angeles Times.

• Reached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Geffen declined to Reached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Geffen declined to make any comment.make any comment.

the new york times

• In October he sold In October he sold Jasper Jasper JohnsJohns’s “False Start” ’s “False Start” (1959) to Kenneth C. Griffin, managing director (1959) to Kenneth C. Griffin, managing director and chief executive of the Chicago-based and chief executive of the Chicago-based Citadel Investment Group, for $80 million. Citadel Investment Group, for $80 million.

• More recently he sold Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, More recently he sold Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5, 1948” for $140 million to the financier David 1948” for $140 million to the financier David Martinez, experts familiar with the transaction Martinez, experts familiar with the transaction have reported. have reported. – (Last week Mr. Martinez denied through his law firm, (Last week Mr. Martinez denied through his law firm,

Shearman & Sterling, that he had bought the Shearman & Sterling, that he had bought the painting, but art world experts have repeatedly painting, but art world experts have repeatedly reaffirmed that he was the buyer.)reaffirmed that he was the buyer.)

the new york times

• Mr. Heller said the price tag for “Woman III” was $137.5 million Mr. Heller said the price tag for “Woman III” was $137.5 million and that the sale was brokered by the Manhattan dealer Larry and that the sale was brokered by the Manhattan dealer Larry Gagosian. Gagosian.

• It is unclear whether that price included Mr. Gagosian’s It is unclear whether that price included Mr. Gagosian’s commission. commission.

• If a commission were still to be added to that figure, “Woman III” If a commission were still to be added to that figure, “Woman III” could possibly have fetched the highest price on record for a could possibly have fetched the highest price on record for a painting. painting.

• The current known record was set this month when Mr. Geffen The current known record was set this month when Mr. Geffen sold the Pollock for $140 million.sold the Pollock for $140 million.

the new york times

• The female figure was a theme to which de Kooning returned The female figure was a theme to which de Kooning returned repeatedly. He began painting women regularly in the early repeatedly. He began painting women regularly in the early 1940s and did so again later in that decade and more seriously 1940s and did so again later in that decade and more seriously in the 1950s. Often they are depicted in an almost graffitilike in the 1950s. Often they are depicted in an almost graffitilike style, with gigantic, vacuous eyes, massive breasts, toothy style, with gigantic, vacuous eyes, massive breasts, toothy smiles and clawlike hands set against colorful layers of paint. smiles and clawlike hands set against colorful layers of paint.

• ““Woman III,” measuring 68 by 48½ inches, is one of six Woman III,” measuring 68 by 48½ inches, is one of six “Woman” paintings he numbered. The other five are all in world-“Woman” paintings he numbered. The other five are all in world-class museums, all but one in the United States. class museums, all but one in the United States.

the new york times

• ““Woman III” comes with a rich history. Woman III” comes with a rich history. – Mr. Geffen acquired it in 1994 from a Tehran Mr. Geffen acquired it in 1994 from a Tehran

museum in a quiet trade with the help of Doris museum in a quiet trade with the help of Doris Ammann, a Zurich dealer, on the tarmac of the Ammann, a Zurich dealer, on the tarmac of the Vienna airport.Vienna airport.

• In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a precious 16th-century painted manuscript precious 16th-century painted manuscript detailing the ascension of Shah Tahmasp of detailing the ascension of Shah Tahmasp of Persia to the throne.Persia to the throne.

the new york times

• In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a precious 16th-In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a precious 16th-century painted manuscript detailing the ascension of century painted manuscript detailing the ascension of Shah Tahmasp of Persia to the throne. Shah Tahmasp of Persia to the throne.

• Because Mr. Cohen is known as a supporter of both the Because Mr. Cohen is known as a supporter of both the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum, his purchase is likely to stir speculation about whether his purchase is likely to stir speculation about whether “Woman III” will one day go to a museum. “Woman III” will one day go to a museum.

• ““Steve is a young man; he just recently celebrated his Steve is a young man; he just recently celebrated his 50 birthday,” Mr. Heller said. “So it’s bit early to say. He 50 birthday,” Mr. Heller said. “So it’s bit early to say. He has not made any ultimate decision on the fate of his has not made any ultimate decision on the fate of his collection.”collection.”

I IIIII

IV V VI

• Woman, I (1950-52). Museum of Modern Art, New York. U.S.A.

• Woman, II (1952). Museum of Modern Art, New York. U.S.A.

• Woman III (1952-53). Private Collection.

• Woman IV (1952-53). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri. U.S.A.

• Woman V (1952-53). National Gallery, Canberra, Australia.

• Woman VI (1953). Carnegie Museum of ArtPittsburgh, PA. U.S.A.

http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=79810

• Bien se puede generalizar el comentario que hacen los expertos del MOMA sobre la primera obra de la serie:

• El sujeto, armatoste con ojos salvajes, está dibujado a partir de una amalgama de arquetipos femeninos, desde las diosas paleolíticas de la fertilidad hasta las chicas de calendario contemporáneas.

• Su mirada amenazante y su feroz sonrisa están realzadas por las agresivas pinceladas de De Kooning y su frenética aplicación de pintura.

• Combinando voluptuosidad y amenaza, refleja la antiquísima ambivalencia cultural entre reverenciar o temer al poder de lo femenino

seated Mother Goddess flanked by two lionesses from Çatalhöyük (c. 6000-5500 BC), tMuseum of Anatolian Civilizations

Ankara , Turkey

Sumerian

3000 B.C.

The dreamer. National Archaeological Museum, Valetta, Malta. 3000 B.C.

Venus of Willendorf Austriaca. 28,000 BCENaturhistorisches Museum, Vienna