25 JANUARY 1 FEBRUARY 2026

BRUSSELS EXPO | HEYSEL

Artworks

This section will be available this Autumn.

Galleries
Galleries Galerie AB - Agnès Aittouarès Franck Anelli Fine Art Ars Antiqua d'Arschot & Cie Art et Patrimoine - Laurence Lenne Arte-Fact Fine Art Artimo Fine Arts Galerie Ary Jan Galerie BA - Berthet Aittouarès HELENE BAILLY MARCILHAC Véronique Bamps Barbara Bassi Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art Galerie de la Béraudière Galerie Berès Bernier/Eliades Galeria Bessa Pereira Galerie BG Arts Boon Gallery Galerie Alexis Bordes Bernard Bouisset Galerie Boulakia Galerie Nicolas Bourriaud Brame & Lorenceau Cabinet of Curiosities - Honourable Silver Objects Galerie Capazza Giammarco Cappuzzo Fine Art Carlucci Gallery Galerie Jean-François Cazeau Galerie Cento Anni Chambre professionnelle belge de la Librairie Ancienne et Moderne (CLAM) Citadelles & Mazenod CKS Gallery Claes Gallery Collectors Gallery COLNAGHI Costermans Dalton Somaré De Brock De Jonckheere Galerie Bernard De Leye Galerie Oscar De Vos De Wit Fine Tapestries De Zutter Art Gallery Dei Bardi Art Thomas Deprez Fine Arts Patrick Derom Gallery Desmet Fine Arts Virginie Devillez Fine Art DIE GALERIE Douwes Fine Art b.v. Epoque Fine Jewels Finch & Co Galerie Flak A&R Fleury Galerie La Forest Divonne Galerie Christophe Gaillard Galerie des Modernes Gilden's Art Gallery Grusenmeyer-Woliner Galerie Hadjer Galerie Haesaerts-le Grelle Philippe Heim Heutink Ikonen Galerie Hioco Hoffmans Antiques Huberty & Breyne Galerie Hurtebize rodolphe janssen Francis Janssens van der Maelen Kunsthaus Kende Harold t’Kint de Roodenbeke Florian Kolhammer Hartford Fine Art - Lampronti Gallery Alexis Lartigue Lemaire Galerie Lowet de Wotrenge Francis Maere Fine Arts Maison D'Art Maisonjaune Studio Martins&Montero Martos Gallery MARUANI MERCIER MassModernDesign Galerie Mathivet Mearini Fine Art Galerie Greta Meert Meessen Galerie la Ménagerie Mulier Mulier Gallery Jan Muller Antiques Klaas Muller NARDI VENEZIA Nosbaum Reding Dr. Nöth kunsthandel Galerie Nathalie Obadia, Paris/Brussels Objects With Narratives Galeria Jordi Pascual Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach Pauline's Jewellery Box Pelgrims de Bigard Galerie Alexis Pentcheff Christophe Perlès Galerie Perrin Guy Pieters Gallery Gallery de Potter d’Indoye Galerie de la Présidence Pron Van Pruissen Asian Art QG Gallery Maison Rapin Almine Rech Stéphane Renard Fine Art Repetto Gallery robertaebasta Romigioli Antichità Laurent Schaubroeck Serge Schoffel - Art Premier Segoura Fine Art Edouard Simoens Gallery Herwig Simons Fine Arts Stern Pissarro Gallery Stone Gallery Galerie Taménaga TASCHEN TEMPLON The old Treasury Galerie Patrice Trigano unforget Decorative Arts Univers du Bronze Vagabond Antiques Gallery Sofie Van de Velde Van Herck-Eykelberg Galerie Raf Van Severen Samuel Vanhoegaerden Gallery Maurice Verbaet Gallery Galerie von Vertes Axel Vervoordt Galerie Dina Vierny VKD Jewels Galerie Florence de Voldère N. Vrouyr Floris van Wanroij Fine Art Galerie Watteeu by Edouard & Andrea de Caters Victor Werner WHITFORD Willow Gallery
 

Pauline's Jewellery Box

Art Deco emerald & diamond necklace, circa 1920-1930 Platinum, emerald and diamond Provenance: France A beautiful Art Deco Colombian emerald & diamond pendant necklace, set with a pear shaped Colombian emerald weighing approximately 13.44 carats surrounded by old mine cut diamonds. Estimated total diamond weight is approximately 3.00 carats. Estimated colour H-I on average. Estimated clarity VS on average. The diamonds are bright & lively. Mounted in platinum.

 

Beck & Eggeling International Fine Art

max ernst

Max Ernst (Brühl 1891-1976 Paris) Un Caprice de Neptune, 1959 Oil on canvas 27 x 35 cm Signed lower right 'max ernst' Provenance: Paolo Marinotti; Lawrence Rubin Greenberg Van Doren Fine Art, New York; private collection, Germany Literature: W. Spies, S. and G. Metgen: Max Ernst. Oeuvre-Katalog, Werke 1954-1963, Cologne, 1998, p. 194, n° 3425 (ill.) Exhibitions: 1961, June-July, Paris, Max Ernst sculptés, Galerie au Pont des Art Weill; 1966, 17 June-2 October, Venice, Max Ernst, Oltre la pittura, Palazzo Grassi, cat. n° 7 (ill.); 1979, Munich, Max Ernst, Retrospektiv, Haus der Kunst, cat. n° 296, ill. III (colour ill. n° 30, ill. 331)

 

Dr. Nöth kunsthandel

peter leftwich

Peter Leftwich (Great Britain, 1913-?) Bawilele, 1937 Oil and tempera on canvas 102 x 77 cm Signed and dated lower right: Peter Leftwich 37 Verso inscribed on the canvas: No 2 'Bawilele' by Peter Leftwich and on the stretcher Provenance: Otto Rasmussen, Danish director of the East Asiatic Company Exhibition: Capetown, South African National Gallery: Annual Exhibition of Contemporary Art 1937-38, n° 107

 

Van Pruissen Asian Art

tokuda yasokichi iii

Tokuda Yasokichi III alias Kutani Masahiko (Japan, 1933-2009) Porcelain vase Japan, late 20th century H 29.5 cm Signed ‘Kutani Masahiko’ on the base Literature: Yosai - Tokuda Yasokichi Sakuhinshu (The works of Tokuda Yasokichi), Kodansha 1995, Japan This elegant Kutani porcelain vase by Tokuda Yasokichi III - designated a Living National Treasure in 1997 - exemplifies his groundbreaking approach to traditional ceramic art. The slender, tapering body is enveloped in a rich aubergine glaze, punctuated by a single iridescent blue stripe flowing vertically from the mouth to the base. This striking effect was created using Yasokichi’s innovative saiyū (polychrome overglaze) technique, which brought new luminosity and abstraction to Kutani ware. Born Masahiko, Yasokichi III redefined the possibilities of Kutani ceramics, elevating them into a modern art form. Today, his works are held in leading international museum collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the British Museum.

 

Galeria Bessa Pereira

Sergio Rodrigues (Rio de Janeiro, 1927–2014) 'Kilin' chair, 1970s Solid wood, leather H 68 x W 68 x D 68 cm Origin: Brasil Provenance: private collection, Rio de Janeiro; Galeria Bessa Pereira collection Literature: Vicente, A., & Vasconcellos, M. (Comps.), Móvel moderno brasileiro (1st edition), São Paulo: Olhares, 2017, p. 302; Cals, S, Sergio Rodrigues, Rio de Janeiro: Icatu, 2000, p. 142

 

Virginie Devillez Fine Art

pierre-louis flouquet

Pierre-Louis Flouquet (Paris 1900-1967 Brussels) Féminités, circa 1923-1925 Oil on canvas 125 x 87 cm Signed lower right 'flouquet' Provenance: Galerie Patrick Derom, Brussels; private collection, Brussels; private collection, Brussels (by descent to the present owner) Literature: Serge Goyens de Heusch, Pierre-Louis Flouquet. 1900-1967, Brussels, Fondation pour l’Art belge, 1993, (ill. p. 56) Exhibitions: Brussels, Galerie Patrick Derom, The Avant-garde of the 1920s in Belgium, 1992, cat. n° 12 (ill.); Drogenbos, FeliXart Museum, L’Équerre / 7 Arts 1923, scenographic reconstruction of the fair stand of the publishing house L’Équerre, 2008-2011, no catalogue published Born in Paris, Pierre-Louis Flouquet was nine years old when his family moved to Brussels. Mainly self-taught, he received a brief artistic education at the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Brussels, where he met, among others, Victor Servranckx and René Magritte. The latter soon shared a studio with Flouquet, who began producing geometric works that represented a true synthesis of Cubism and Futurism. Throughout the 1920s, Flouquet exhibited frequently on the international stage - in Paris, Madrid, New York, Chicago, Buenos Aires, and Berlin, at the Galerie Der Sturm. For the gallery’s eponymous magazine, Flouquet even designed a large number of covers. During this period, he developed an art that evolved primarily through distinct series: Paysage plastique, Féminités, Composition, Formes, and Construction. The large-scale painting Féminités belongs to the series of the same name, begun in 1922, which explores geometric variations on the morphology of the female body. The rigor and purity that Flouquet infused into these anthropomorphic stylizations - further emphasized by his distinctive sense of composition - reveal his fascination with the formal perfection of the new technological creations of the modern age. Yet, in Flouquet’s work, as in that of Fernand Léger, such faith in mechanical forms does not lead to a total rejection of figuration, but rather to a search for plastic correspondences between the human and the machine. The composition Féminités is particularly harmonious, achieving a balance between line and color, enhanced by a marble-like background that lends warmth to the work.

 

Galerie Hioco

standing buddha

Standing Buddha Schist Ancient Gandhāra region, 2nd-3rd century AD H 103 cm Provenance: private collection, France

 

Galerie BG Arts

Georges Clairin (Paris 1843-1919 Clohars-Carnoët) Portrait of Suzanne Lalique Oil on canvas 140 x 80 cm Signed 'Á Suzanne Lalique son ami G. Clairin' Provenance: property of Suzanne Lalique-Haviland; private collection, France Literature: Maritch-Haviland, N. de Léobardy, C., Lalique-Haviland-Burty Family Portraits, Limoges, 2009, p. 29, ill. in a group photograph, taken at Cours-la-Reine in Paris, showing Suzanne Lalique wearing this same dress for a costume ball to mark her birthday in about 1913 Georges Clairin is best remembered as an orientialist and portrait artist. He was a close friend and advisor to René Lalique. They regularly had dinner together and shared an interest in oriental objects, as well as travelling together to Venice. Clairin belonged to the bohemian world and painted Sarah Bernhardt, the celebrated actress of the day, in her different roles on numerous occasions. He also introduced her to Lalique, and she became one of Lalique’s most significant patrons for whom he designed jewellery. For both men, women were a constant theme of their work. As a family friend it is not surprising that Clairin should have painted Suzanne, René Lalique’s daughter, in costume for her birthday ball in 1913.

 

Galerie BA - Berthet Aittouarès

mark tobey

Mark Tobey (USA, Centerville 1890-1976 Basel, Switzerland) Landscape, 1967 Tempera on paper 26.5 x 48.6 cm Signed and dated lower back, stamp on the back Certificate of authenticity by the Committee Mark Tobey dated 8 February 2007 Provenance: François Gaudard, pianist and friend of Mark Tobey

 

Vagabond Antiques

Pair of carved Heraldic stone lions Central European, Hapsburg Territories, late 17th century Carved limestone H 90 x W 57 x D 77 cm A striking pair of limestone lions, carved in full relief and designed as true opposites. Each is seated upright, with bared teeth, strong haunches and tightly curled manes. Both wear a crown and hold an oval cartouche carved in bold relief with an interlaced monogram. They were made to flank the formal entrance of a major estate. The form and detailing are typical of high-status Baroque culture in Central Europe and the crown design is especially telling. Each features a repeating pattern of fleur-de-lis and crosses, closely following the design of imperial crowns used in Habsburg heraldry - particularly in the realms of Austria and Bohemia. A crucial distinction is the placement of such a crown directly on the animal - not merely above the cipher - which indicates an emblem of royal standing. Comparable examples can be seen on the monumental lions at Prince Eugene of Savoy's Upper Belvedere Palace in Vienna and others across Bavaria and Austria, where lions were used as heraldic supporters for noble or imperial arms. The monograms are hard to decipher but are almost certainly ciphers for the original owners or patrons. They likely stood at the gates of a major estate or seat of power under Habsburg rule or allegiance, marking out territories and status.

 

QG Gallery

giorgio griffa

Giorgio Griffa (Turin, 1936) Campo viola campo rosa, 1990 Acrylic on jute 116 x 82 cm

 

Galerie Capazza

éric antoine

Éric Antoine (France, 1974) Tidy V, 2024 Ambrotype 40 x 40 cm Provenance: the artist's studio Exhibition: La Fabrique des Éléments, 4 October-7 December 2025, Galerie Capazza, France In the Cerveaux (Brains) series, from which Tidy V originates, layers of leaves and stacked documents tell stories of real or imaginary lives. The ambrotype, one of the earliest photographic processes using a camera obscura, is created using wet collodion applied to a glass plate, resulting in a unique piece. With a contemporary approach, Eric Antoine uses wet collodion for its precision, deep blacks and silvery density. His work is closely linked to his place of residence and his memories. In the landscapes of the Alsatian Vosges, he developed a fascination for trees, which he studies in anthropomorphic portraits. Through a stationary journey, Eric Antoine often returns to the same places to capture their slow evolution. His work is organised into series in which destinies are recounted using layered still lifes, drowned flowers and accumulations of objects/symbols. These photographs without subjects challengethe very essence of this medium: light, optics, chemistry. The question of the materiality of the image remains at the heart of the artist's research. Far from any nostalgia, the wet collodion process here is an emancipatory discipline. In an almost sculptural approach, Eric Antoine delivers true photograph-objects, shimmering and silvery.

 

DIE GALERIE

johannes heisig

Johannes Heisig (Leipzig, 1953) Großes Stillleben, 2025 Oil on canvas 200 x 170 cm Monogrammed and dated lower right Provenance: the artist's studio Exhibition: Johannes Heisig - Weltgefühl, DIE GALERIE Frankfurt am Main, 2025

 

Thomas Deprez Fine Arts

franz binjé

Franz Binjé (Liège 1835-1900 Brussels) Le feu, circa 1894 Watercolour and gouache on paper 42 x 27.5 cm Signed l.l.: 'F. Binjé'. Provenance: private collection, Belgium Exhibitions: Exposition Universelle des Beaux-Arts, section Société Royale belge des Aquarellistes, Antwerp, World Fair, 1894, cat. nr. 699, as: 'Le feu'; Internationale Kunst-Ausstellung, Berlin, World Fair, 1896, Gemälde cat. nr. 228, as: 'Das Feuer. Aquarell.'

 

Galerie Dina Vierny

aristide maillol

Aristide Maillol (Banyuls-sur-Mer, 1861-1944) Léda, 1901-02 Bronze H 28.3 cm Artist's monogram (on the back of the base) Ambroise Vollard edition from 1902 Foundry Florentin Godard, executed between 1907 and 1937 Provenance: private collection, New York; private collection, London: Galerie Dina Vierny, Paris (acquired from the above in 2025) Litrature: W. George, Les albums d'art Druet, vol. II, Maillol, Paris, 1927, another cast illustrated; J. Rewald, Maillol, Paris, 1939, p. 166 and another cast ill. pp. 110-111 (dated 'circa 1902'); W. George, Aristide Maillol, Berlin, 1965, pp. 137 & 232, another cast ill. p. 137; W. George, Maillol et l'âme de la sculpture, Neuchâtel, 1977, p. 128, another cast and terracotta version ill. pl. 139; B. Lorquin, Aristide Maillol, London, 1995, p. 52, another cast ill. p. 53

 

d'Arschot & Cie

Perfume bottle and case Germany, circa 1620 Anonymous silversmith Chased, engraved, and partially gilded silver. Case in boiled leather. H 9 cm – Weight: 58 g This elegant perfume bottle stands out for the exceptional preservation of its original boiled leather case, a testament to the care taken in protecting and transporting such precious objects in the 17th century. The bottle features a finely engraved vegetal motif enlivened with small exotic birds, typical of the work of silversmiths from southern Germany during the first third of the century. At a time when the distillation of essences was still in its infancy, such bottles accompanied the daily life of the elite, allowing the frequent application of fleeting perfumes. This model, fitted with a screw cap ensuring perfect sealing, illustrates both the practical function and the symbolic value of perfume as a marker of social distinction.

 

Victor Werner

constant permeke

Constant Permeke (Antwerp 1886-1952 Ostend) Head of farmer, 1926 Oil on canvas 80 x 55 cm Signed 'Permeke' lower right Bears a label on the reverse that likely indicates the artwork was part of an exhibition organised with the support or involvement of the Belgian Ministry of Public Education at the time

 

Galeria Jordi Pascual

Joan Miró (Barcelona 1893-1983 Palma de Mallorca) Personnage, oiseau III, 1973 Acrylic and wax on paper 90x60 cm Certificate of authenticity from ADOM Provenance: Miró foundation, Barcelona; private collection, Barcelona Literature: J. Dupin y A. Lelong-Mainaud. Joan Miró. Catalogue raisonné. Drawings. vol IV: 1973 - 1976, ed. Daniel Lelong and Successió Miró publishers, 2013. p. 91, fig. 2579

 

Galeria Jordi Pascual

Serge Poliakoff (Moscow 1900-1969 Paris) Abstract Composition, 1967 Oil on canvas 92 x 73 cm Signed lower left This work includes a photo-certificate of authenticity issued by the archives Serge Poliakoff in 2024 Provenance: Studio Bellini, Milan Literature: Poliakoff, Alexis, 'Serge Poliakoff – Catalogue Raisonné', Volume V, 1966-1969, Munich 2016, p. 236, n° 67-101

 

COLNAGHI

Attributed to the Menzies group Red-figure epichysis in terracotta with Hermaphroditos and a woman Greek, Apulian, circa 330-310 B.C. H 21 cm Provenance: Eugène Piot collection (1812-1890); his sale, 3 May 1870, lot n° 21; private collection, France; purchased from the above, 2022 Literature: F. Lenormand, Collection d’Antiquités Grecques recueillies dans la Grande-Grèce, l’Attique et l’Asie Mineure par M. Eug. P., Paris 1870, p. 16, n° 21 This epichysis is noteworthy for its provenance, as it was once part of the prestigious collection of Eugène Piot (1812–1890) - the French art critic, journalist, publisher, collector, and photographer - and it still bears his collection label. The present example also stands out for its above-average size and exceptional quality. It is in excellent condition and is typical of 4th-century BC Apulian Greek pottery. This vessel, characterized by its elegant neck surmounting a coiled body, was probably used to contain precious liquids intended for sparing use. Its delicate mouth seems ill-suited for serving wine, as has sometimes been suggested in the past, with some even describing such vases as “low-shaped oinochoai with flat bottoms.” Rather, they were most likely used for oil or perfume. The dropper-like mouth is flanked by two small, stylized masks in relief. The wide, disc-like shoulder of the vase has been decorated with particular attention to detail and form. The border is adorned with a frieze of eggs. A hermaphroditic Eros kneels and presents a mirror to a seated young woman, who also holds a mirror and a crown. On the reverse, an elegant arrangement of palmettes unfolds from the base of the handle and frames the central scene. The concave sides of the body are decorated with a vegetal frieze, overpainted in white and incised. Comparable examples are held at the Getty Museum in Malibu and the Musée Saint-Raymond in Toulouse; both have been attributed to the Menzies Group, active during the third quarter of the 4th century BC.

 

Costermans

pierre-philippe thomire

Pierre-Philippe Thomire (Paris, 1751-1843)(Attributed to) Pair of table centrepieces Empire period, early 18th century Chiselled and gilded bronze H 57 x W 22 cm

 

Francis Janssens van der Maelen

Maurice Daurat (Bordeaux 1880-1969 Meulan-en-Yvelines) Art Deco table centrepiece Paris, circa 1927-1931 Sterling silver, Macassar ebony, marble H 42.5 x W 104 x D 20 cm This striking early 20th century French silver and alabaster centrepiece on a Macassar ebony base is a superb example of Art Deco design. Designed by Maurice Daurat in Paris, circa 1927-1931. Maurice Daurat was famous for his limited editions and large commissioned works. His style is characterised by geometrical, strict shaping, emphasising volume and material.

 

Galerie Christophe Gaillard

hélène delprat

Hélène Delprat (Amiens, 1957) Et in Arcadia Ego, 2022 Pigment and acrylic binder on canvas 250 x 200 cm Provenance: the artist's studio, Paris Exhibition: Le Contenu Pictural, 2025, Galerie Christophe Gaillard Brussels (BE)

 

MassModernDesign

pierre weckx lougne chair brazil 1950s

Low lounge chair designed by Pierre Weckx and manufactured in Brazil 1950s. This low lounge chair is an expressive example of Brazilian modernism, revealing Pierre Weckx’s refined understanding of structure, material, and repose. Designed in the 1950s, the chair embodies a period in which Brazilian designers began to reinterpret international modernist ideas through local materials, craftsmanship, and climate driven lifestyles. The low, reclining posture reflects a relaxed approach to seating, prioritising the body at rest while maintaining a sculptural presence within the interior. The frame is executed in solid caviuna wood, a dense and richly grained Brazilian hardwood prized for its durability and warm tonal depth. Weckx uses the material with confidence, shaping the structure into a continuous, angled silhouette that feels both grounded and fluid. The extended rear legs and subtly inclined seat create a dynamic profile that is visually light despite the solidity of the wood. The armrests are integrated seamlessly, reinforcing the sense of cohesion between form and function. A system of rope supports the original golden toned cowhide cushion, allowing the seat and back to respond gently to the body. This construction not only enhances comfort but also introduces a tactile contrast between the smooth wood, the tensioned rope, and the supple cowhide. The cushion, with its natural patina, contributes significantly to the character of the piece and speaks to its authenticity. This chair has been published several times in Casa e Jardim, underscoring its importance within the canon of mid century Brazilian design. Preserved in fully original condition, it stands as a rare and compelling example of Pierre Weckx’s work, where craftsmanship, material honesty, and an effortless sense of leisure converge into a timeless modern object.

 

The old Treasury

van cleef & arpels

Van Cleef & Arpels necklace 18k yellow gold France, circa 1990

 

Heutink Ikonen

Anastasis Russia, circa 1600 32.5 x 26.5 cm The Anastasis (resurrection) of Christ and the victory over the realm of death are central to this icon. Christ, surrounded by a radiant mandorla, tramples the gates of the underworld and pulls Adam up from a stone coffin by his wrist. Behind Adam stands John, pointing to Christ with his hand and addressing a group of Old Testament prophets and forefathers. To the right of Christ are Eve, Kings David and Solomon, and the prophet Daniel, amongst others. At the bottom right, Christ can be seen rising from his own tomb

 

Galerie La Patinoire Royale Bach

Thomas Devaux (Marcq-en-Barœul, 1980) Rayon 8.1 Parties 1,2,3, 2017 Fine art paper, pigment print, frame zith 22, gold leaf 300 x 120 cm Edition 2/2 + 2 AP

 

Galerie Ary Jan

Jean-Pierre Cassigneul (Paris, 1935) Se voir dans un regard, 1990 Oil on canvas 130 x 97 cm Signed lower left and titled on reverse Authenticity confirmed by Jean-Pierre Cassigneul

 

Guy Pieters Gallery

karel appel

Karel Appel (Amsterdam 1921-2006 Zurich) Polderkoe, 1952 Oil on canvas 82 x 116 cm This work is registered in the archives of the Karel Appel estate Provenance: Martha Jackson Gallery, New York; private collection, Belgium; Galerie Krikhaar, Amsterdam; private collection, Brussels

 

Almine Rech

tom wesselmann

Tom Wesselmann (USA, Ohio 1931-2004 New York) 'Smoker Study (For Smoker #11)', 1972 Oil on canvas 29.2 x 29.2 cm 46.4 x 46.4 x 3.8 cm (framed) Examined by the WPI's Wesselmann committee on 13 December 2023, for inclusion in the forthcoming catalogue raisonné Provenance: estate of the artist Courtesy of the Estate of Tom Wesselmann and Almine Rech / Photo: Thomas Barratt Smoker Study (For Smoker #11), 1972 belongs to Tom Wesselmann’s Smoker series, which the artist began in 1967. Born out of a desire to isolate and further investigate the representation of lips and the act of smoking, the Smoker series also found its origin in advertising, and stands as testament to the major role Wesselmann occupied in the birth and development of the Pop aesthetic. Today, Wesselmann’s Smoker paintings are among his most renowned works. The series began with Smoker, 1 (Mouth, 12), 1967, which is now held in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Wesselmann found photography to be a useful medium to capture his models in poses he would later translate to larger scale works. On one occasion, his friend Peggy Sarno lit a cigarette during a modeling session. Wesselmann took some photographs of her as she inhaled, still posing in a reclined position. This moment inspired the Smoker series, which is characterised by the presence of vivid red lips juxtaposed with curling white smoke. Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) is both bold and intimate, capturing a single moment of pleasure in a complex and ambitious composition indicative of the artist’s experimentation with subject, form, and color. In mid-century America, cigarette advertisements were incredibly elaborate, among the most sophisticated forms of marketing. As well as standing as an example of Wesselmann’s fascination with popular culture and the female body, Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) also demonstrates the artist’s mastery of oil paint, attention to detail, and sophisticated compositional style. In the 1960s, Wesselmann had been developing his Great American Nudes series when he was inspired to focus on specific details of female figures. In an almost fetishistic act, he started isolating elements of the female figure, creating smaller preparatory pieces as well as larger scale works depicting hands, breasts, and lips. Out of this approach his Mouth paintings and Smoker Series, works such as Smoker Study (For Smoker #11) were born. Tom Wesselmann (1931–2004) was one of the leading American Pop artists of the mid-20th Century. Departing from Abstract Expressionism, he explored classical representations of the nude, still life, and landscape, while incorporating everyday objects and advertising ephemera. Wesselmann was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on February 23, 1931. He attended Hiram College in Ohio from 1949 to 1951 before entering the University of Cincinnati. In 1953, his studies were interrupted by a two-year enlistment in the army, during which time he began drawing cartoons. He returned to the university in 1954 and received a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1956. During this time, he decided to pursue a career in cartooning and enrolled at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. After graduation he moved to New York City, where he was accepted into the Cooper Union and where his focus shifted dramatically to fine art.

 
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