Intriguing Surrealist Work Tops Bonhams Impressionist Sale in London

Impressionist & Modern Art

20 Apr 2023

London, New Bond Street

REMEDIOS VARO (1908-1963) WITH POSSIBLE ADDITIONS BY ÓSCAR DOMÍNGUEZ (1906–1957) & ESTEBAN FRANCÉS (1913–1976)

Composition surréaliste (tableau collaboratif)

There were stellar results at Bonhams’ London Impressionist and Modern Art sale today (Thursday 20 April). The top lot was Composition surréaliste (tableau collaboratif) by the Spanish artist Remedios Varo (1908-1963) with possible additions by Tenerife-born Óscar Domínguez (1906-1957) and Catalan artist Esteban Francés (1913-1976), which sold for an impressive £176,700 against a pre-sale estimate of £50,000 - 70,000.

The 59-lot sale made a total of £2,059,500 with 87% sold by lot and 96% sold by value.

Ruth Woodbridge, Head of Impressionist and Modern Art at Bonhams, commented: “We are delighted with the results of today’s sale and especially to have achieved such a fantastic price for Composition Surréaliste (tableau collaboratif). This was a real Surrealist mystery work, which had not only the hallmarks of Remedios Varo (with the decapitated head of her husband featured in the right corner), but also that of her lovers, Óscar Domínguez and Esteban Francés. It captured something of the storied and turbulent lives of the Surrealists, and so it is no wonder it captivated collectors.”

Other highlights of the sale included:

• Gustave Loiseau (1865-1935), La plaine du Neubourg, la moisson. Sold for £164,100.

• Eugène Boudin (1824-1898), Marée Basse à Étaples, Soleil Couchant. Sold for £151,500.

• Carl Moll (1861-1945), Der Park von Schönbrunn mit Blick zur Gloriette. Sold for £126,300.

• Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), Rideau-chevelure semi-humain séparé par une fermeture éclair (Hairy half-human curtains separated by a zipper). Sold £101,100.

• Giorgio de Chirico (1888-1978), Vita silente. Sold for £101,100.

• Karl Hofer (1878-1955), Circusleute. Sold for £82,200.

• Salvador Dalí (1904-1989), Visage féminin Pour L’hologramme ’Submarine Fisherman’. Sold for £31,800.