An Evening at Bonhams
Notes from the Bonhams 20th & 21st C. Preview
There’s a particular energy at an auction preview. Before the paddles go up and the estimates turn into results, the auction house galleries let you stand as close as you like and take your time with each piece. This week, I had the pleasure of attending the preview for Bonhams’ November 20th and 21st Century Art sales. It was a beautiful event with powerful works spanning the Impressionists to Contemporary art.
A few pieces that made an impression on me:
Vivian Springford: The 1970 painting from her Expansionist series uses the soak-stain technique, so the color seems to bloom from within. Long overlooked, Springford is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
Jean Dufy: Pure joy in color. Dufy’s quick, gestural brushstrokes convey the energy and music of Paris.
Pablo Picasso: No matter how many times you encounter Picasso, there’s always something new. This double-sided work was a delight.
Paul Jenkins: Jenkins’ luminous poured color glowed from across the room.
Henry Moore: I love seeing an artist’s process this directly: rough ideas on paper that would later become monumental reclining forms in bronze and stone. Ideas for Reclining Figure Sculpture (1934) is a rare look at how a 2D sketch becomes a 3D sculpture.
Richard Serra: His work on paper was bold and textured. Hung across from Dufy’s Parisian scene, it made a striking contrast.
Ed Ruscha: His wit with language and image is quintessentially American. His gunpowder drawing was surprisingly delicate up close.
What I love most about previews is the intimacy they offer. You don’t have to be bidding to learn something. You see how a piece feels on the wall, how condition and scale read in person, and how art you thought you knew from a catalog feels entirely different in the room. For collectors, this is where the real decision-making begins.
Every work in these sales carries a story: of the artist, of the collectors who lived with it, and of whoever will carry it forward next. Helping clients find their place in that story is at the heart of what I do.
If you’re considering a work in the November 18 and 19 sales, or simply want a second set of eyes before an auction, I’d love to talk.
