Loading Spinner
Don’t miss out on items like this!

Sign up to get notified when similar items are available.

Lot 47: OSCAR CAHÉN, UNTITLED, 1952-1954, ink and watercolour, 40 ins x 26 ins; 101.6 cms x 66 cms

Est: $30,000 CAD - $40,000 CADSold:
Waddington'sToronto, ON, CANovember 24, 2014

Item Overview

Description

OSCAR CAHÉNUNTITLED, 1952-1954ink and watercolour 40 ins x 26 ins; 101.6 cms x 66 cms Provenance:Private Collection, TorontoNote:Oscar Cahén is acknowledged as one of the principal contributors to the evolution of abstract art in Canada in the 1950s. A prominent, influential member of Painters Eleven, his achievements have been in the public light on near perpetual exhibition in important public art institutions for the past 60 years. Thus, we may have come to imagine that we know what a characteristic picture is by Oscar Cahén. Many continue to celebrate the artist as an unparalleled colourist. Thereby, an exemplary Cahén painting, it seems, displays his remarkable mix of chromatic pyrotechnics, astonishing clashes of magenta, reds, oranges with striking complementary colour accents of vibrant blues and green. While these commendable signature attributes define certain outstanding Cahén paintings they are also surprisingly atypical of the characteristics of the vast majority of Cahén works. His mature career as an aspiring, progressive artist was all too brief, ten years bracketed between 1947 and his death in an auto accident in 1956. Throughout this period Cahén was a restless spirit, experimenting and exploring a wide range of aesthetic options, themes, approaches, media and timbres. A good number of his works are black and white or near monochrome. Why should this surprise? Cahén was one of Canada's most respected illustrators, designing countless magazine covers for leading publications such as Maclean's, creating drawings to accompany literary texts and more. He was a key member and annual exhibitor with the Canadian Society of Painters in Water Colour and The Canadian Society of Graphic Arts. Thereby, Cahén exercised his craft daily. He was fluid and at total ease creating and composing upon paper, perhaps even more so than upon canvas. His graphic acumen may have exceeded his considerable colouristic flair.This lot is a considerable achievement, a balance of expressive abandon and restraint, blunt gestural barrage and withheld, tempered delicacy. Cahén it seems was vexed by the idea of creating a composition that juggled polar opposites. In this work the left half of the picture is fully engaged, forceful black lines atop scumbled background. The right hand side of the page is poignantly blank, pristine, untouched. It is a challenge that he will battle the rest of his career, however, perhaps never so elementarily as in this picture on paper in strident black and white.The powerful mark-making of Franz Kline may seem the evident place to start when unravelling the evolution of Cahén's black and white pictures such as this one. However, this is just not satisfactory. Cahén's central image seems bidden by some referent, we do not know precisely what: a head, a trunk, outreaching appendages? Nevertheless it is a figure against a ground. His work embraced vegetative themes, flowers, pods; it quoted clawed roosters and chess pieces. Is the dominant void circle a celestial orb or a thought bubble? Many of his illustration and art works of the period were absorbed by technology, the appearance of traffic and railroad crossing lights. How is it that it is simultaneously all of these and none of these?The abstracted surrealism of Picasso, Gonzales, David Smith, Max Ernst and the Latin tradition including Tamayo all beg for discussion within the company of this picture. Perhaps, the evident touchstone is British artist, Graham Sutherland. His works depicting abstracted processional "personages" were in exhibition, publication and major museum collections at this period, including Toronto and the Art Gallery of Toronto. Cahén has been lauded historically for his exemplary chromatic inventiveness, Untitled, demonstrates why his Painters Eleven compatriots so revered his talent. It is a terse work, that stands beside the achievements of Borduas and Les Automatistes, Soulages and the finest of second generation abstract expressionism. This work was executed circa 1952-1954. We thank Jeffrey Spalding C.M., R.C.A. for this essay.

Artist or Maker

Payment & Shipping

Payment

Accepted forms of payment: MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

The Auctioneers will not undertake packing or shipping. The purchaser
must designate and arrange for the services of an independent shipper
and be responsible for all shipping and insurance expenses. The
Auctioneers will, upon request, provide names of professional packers and
shippers but will not be held responsible for the service or have any liability
for providing this information. Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping
costs of lots offered in this sale may be obtained from:
Pak Mail
Attn: Taurus Chan
4981 Hwy 7 East, Unit 12A, Markham, ON L3R 1N1
Tel: 905.470.6874; 416.293.8225
Fax: 905.470.6875
[email protected]
www.pakmailmarkham.ca

Permits may be required for international shipments due to export restrictions on endangered species.

Auction Details

Canadian Fine Art Auction

by
Waddington's
November 24, 2014, 07:00 PM EST

100 Broadview Avenue Suite 200, Toronto, ON, M4M 3H3, CA

Terms

Live bidding may start higher or lower

Buyer's Premium

$0 - 49,999:21.0%
$50,000+:21.0%

Bidding Increments

From:To:Increment:
$0$199$10
$200$499$20
$500$999$50
$1,000$1,999$100
$2,000$4,999$200
$5,000$9,999$500
$10,000$19,999$1,000
$20,000$49,999$2,000
$50,000$99,999$5,000
$100,000$199,999$10,000
$200,000$499,999$20,000
$500,000$999,999$25,000
$1,000,000+$50,000

Terms & Conditions

All lots are sold "AS IS". Any description issued by the auctioneer of an article to be sold is subject to variation to be posted or announced verbally in the auction room prior to the time of sale. While the auctioneer has endeavoured not to mislead in the description issued, and the utmost care is taken to ensure the correct cataloguing of each item, such descriptions are purely statements of opinion and are not intended to constitute a representation to the prospective purchasers and no warranty of the correctness of such description is made. An opportunity for inspection of each article is offered prior to the time of sale. No sale will be set aside on account of lack of correspondence of the article with its description or its reproduction, if any, whether colour or black & white. Some lots are of an age and/or nature which preclude their being in pristine condition and some catalogue descriptions make reference to damage and/or restoration. The lack of such a reference does not imply that a lot is free from defects nor does any reference to certain defects imply the absence of others. Frames on artwork are not included as part of purchase or condition. It is the responsibility of prospective purchasers to inspect or have inspected each lot upon which they wish to bid, relying upon their own advisers, and to bid accordingly.

Each lot sold is subject to a premium of 18% of the successful bid price of each lot up to and including $50,000 and 18% on any amount in excess of $50,000 as part of the purchase price. Invaluable Live! clients will be charged a buyer's premium of 21% of the successful bid price of each lot up to and including $50,000 and 21% on any amount in excess of $50,000 as part of the total purchase price.

A charge of 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is applicable on the hammer price and buyer's premium, except for purchases exported from Canada. In the case where purchases are shipped out of the province of Ontario, the HST or GST (Goods and Services
Tax) is charged based on the tax status of that province.

The auctioneer reserves the right to withdraw any lot from sale at any time, to divide any lot or to combine any two or more lots at his sole discretion, all without notice.
The auctioneer has the right to refuse any bid and to advance the bidding at his absolute discretion. The auctioneer reserves the right not to accept and not to reject any bid. Without limitation, any bid which is not commensurate with the value of the article offered, or which is merely a nominal or fractional advance over the previous bid may not be recognized.

Each lot may be subject to an unpublished reserve which may be changed at any time by agreement between the auctioneer and the consignor. The auctioneer may bid, or direct an employee to bid, on behalf of the consignor as agreed between them. In addition, the auctioneer may accept and submit absentee and telephone bids, to be executed by an employee of the auctioneer, pursuant to the instructions of prospective purchasers not in attendance at the sale.

The highest bidder accepted by the auctioneer for any lot shall be the buyer and such buyer shall forthwith assume full risk and responsibility for the lot and must comply with such other Conditions of Sale as may be applicable. If any dispute should arise between bidders the auctioneer shall have the absolute discretion to designate the buyer or, at his option, to withdraw any disputed lot from the sale, or to re-offer it at the same or a subsequent sale. The auctioneer's decision in all cases shall be final.
Immediately after the purchase of a lot, the buyer shall pay or undertake to the satisfaction of the auctioneer with respect to payment of the whole or any part of the purchase price requested by the auctioneer, failing which the auctioneer in his sole discretion may cancel the sale, with or without re-offering the item for sale.
The buyer shall pay for all lots within 48 hours from the date of the sale, after which a late charge of 2% per month on the total invoice may be incurred or
the auctioneer, in his sole discretion, may cancel the sale. The buyer shall not become the owner of the lot until paid for in full. Items must be removed
within 10 days from the date of sale , after which storage charges may be incurred.

Each lot purchased, unless the sale is cancelled as above, shall be held by the auctioneer at his premises or at a public warehouse at the sole risk of the
buyer until fully paid for and taken away.

Notwithstanding condition no. 1, if the buyer, prior to removal of a lot, makesarrangements satisfactory to the auctioneer for the inspection of such lot by a fully qualified person acceptable to the auctioneer to determine the genuineness or authenticity of the lot, to be carried out promptly following the sale of the lot, and if, but only if, within a period of 14 days following the sale a written opinion of such person is presented to the auctioneer to the effect that the lot is not genuine or authentic, accompanied by a written request by the buyer for rescission of the sale, then the sale of the lot will be rescinded and the sale price refunded to the buyer.

Payment for purchases must be by cash, INTERAC direct debit (Cdn clients in person only), certified cheque (U.S. & Overseas not applicable), travelers
cheque, bank draft, electronic transfer (fee applies), and VISA, Mastercard (up to $25,000). As Waddington's requires written
authorization for all credit card purchases, credit cards must be presented in person by the cardholder and therefore cannot be accepted over the
telephone. However, fax authorization arrangements can be made.

In the event of failure to pay for or remove articles within the aforementioned time limit, the auctioneer, without limitation of the rights of the consignor and the auctioneer against the buyer, may resell any of the articles affected, and in such case the original buyer shall be responsible to the auctioneer and the consignor for:
(a) any deficiency in price between the re-sale amount and the
amount to have been paid by the original buyer;
(b) any reasonable charge by the auctioneer for the storage of such
articles until payment and removal by the subsequent buyer; and
(c) the amount of commission which the auctioneer would have
earned had payment been made in full by the original buyer.

It is the responsibility of the buyer to make all arrangements for insuring, packing and removing the property purchased and any assistance by the
auctioneer or his servants, agents or contractors, in packing or removal shall be rendered as a courtesy and without any liability to them.

The auctioneer acts solely as agent for the consignor and makes no representation as to any attribute of, title to, or restriction affecting the articles consigned for sale. Without limitation, the buyer understands that any item bought may be affected by the provisions of the Cultural Property Export Act (Canada).
The auctioneer reserves the right to refuse admission to the sale or to refuse to recognize any or all bids from any particular person or persons at any auction.

All lots will be offered and sold subject to the Conditions of Sale which appear in this catalogue as well as any Glossary and posted or
oral announcement. By bidding at auction, bidders are bound by those Conditions and Glossary, as amended by any oral announcement or posted notices, which together form the contract of sale between the successful bidder (buyer), Waddington's™, and the consignor (seller) of the lot.

Descriptions or photographs of lots are not warranties and each lot is sold "as is" in accordance with the Conditions of Sale.

Frames on artwork are not included as part of purchase or condition.

Contract Information

By bidding at auction, bidders are bound by those Conditions and Glossary, as amended by any oral announcement or posted notices, which together form the contract of sale between the successful bidder (buyer), Waddington's™, and the consignor (seller) of the lot. Descriptions or photographs of lots are not warranties and each lot is sold "as is" in accordance with the Conditions of Sale.

Payment Information

Payment for purchases must be by cash, INTERAC direct debit (Cdn clients in person only), certified cheque (U.S. & Overseas not applicable), travelers cheque, bank draft, electronic transfer (fee applies), and VISA, Mastercard (up to $25,000). As Waddington's requires written authorization for all credit card purchases, credit cards must be presented in person by the cardholder and therefore cannot be accepted over the telephone. However, fax authorization arrangements can be made.

The buyer shall pay for all lots within 48 hours from the date of the sale, after which a late charge of 2% per month on the total invoice may be incurred or the auctioneer, in his sole discretion, may cancel the sale. The buyer shall not become the owner of the lot until paid for in full. Items must be removed within 10 days from the date of sale , after which storage charges may be incurred.

Each lot purchased, unless the sale is cancelled as above, shall be held by the auctioneer at his premises or at a public warehouse at the sole risk of the buyer until fully paid for and taken away.

Shipping Information

The Auctioneers will not undertake packing or shipping. The purchaser
must designate and arrange for the services of an independent shipper
and be responsible for all shipping and insurance expenses. The
Auctioneers will, upon request, provide names of professional packers and
shippers but will not be held responsible for the service or have any liability
for providing this information. Reliable pre-auction estimates of shipping
costs of lots offered in this sale may be obtained from:
Pak Mail
Attn: Taurus Chan
4981 Hwy 7 East, Unit 12A, Markham, ON L3R 1N1
Tel: 905.470.6874; 416.293.8225
Fax: 905.470.6875
[email protected]
www.pakmailmarkham.ca

Permits may be required for international shipments due to export restrictions on endangered species.

Buyer's Premium

A buyer's premium of 18% of the successful bid price of each lot up to and including $50,000 and 18% on any amount in excess of $50,000 is paid by buyer as part of the total purchase price. Invaluable clients will be charged a buyer's premium of 21% of the successful bid price of each lot up to and including $50,000 and 21% on any amount in excess of $50,000 as part of the total purchase price.

Taxes on your purchase

A charge of 13% HST (Harmonized Sales Tax) is applicable on the hammer price and buyer's premium, except for purchases exported from Canada. In the case where purchases are shipped out of the province of Ontario, the HST or GST is charged based on the tax status of that province.

Condition Notice

All of the items are to be considered, unless otherwise noted in the
description, in good condition. The definition of "good" when used in
reference to condition, describes an object as having had no major damage
or repair but as with the nature of the material, may show minor surface
wear, discolouration etc., which indicates the acceptable wear that the piece
may acquire with age. If you are particular about minor flaws, you should
examine the pieces in person or have our staff answer any questions before
bidding. Sizes are approximate. It is the sole responsibility of the bidder to
inquire as to the condition of a lot before bidding. Condition reports are
available upon request by phone, fax, email or in person. You are advised
to make any requests well in advance of the sale.