Auction 183C

Modern Art

14. October 2026 at 5:30 PM CEST

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08. October 2026 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
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Catalogue

Modern Art
All lots

On 14 October 2026, we will be presenting over 170 works from various periods and genres in our Modern and Contemporary Art auction. The diverse selection ranges from Classical Modernism through photography and fashion to contemporary art.

Wilhelm Lehmbruck’s 'Small Female Torso (Hagener Torso)', dated circa 1910/11 (estimate € 8,000–12,000), represents a significant work of Classical Modernism. The human form lies at the heart of Lehmbruck’s work; for it, he developed a distinctive visual language situated between naturalistic observation and expressionist form-finding. In the 'Small Female Torso', the fragmentation of the body itself becomes a means of artistic expression – a concept that draws on both ancient sculptures and the modern sculpture of Auguste Rodin. The term 'Hagener Torso', commonly used today, refers to the collector and museum founder Karl Ernst Osthaus, who acquired a cast stone version for his collection in 1912.

A collection of 105 original fashion sketches by Wolfgang Joop from 1978–79 offers an unusual insight into another creative discipline (estimated price € 8,000–12,000). The designs were created in collaboration with Dauster KG in Wiesbaden, a company specialising in fur and leather fashion, and offer a glimpse into the designer’s early creative years, prior to his international breakthrough. These are authentic studio sketches, many of which bear handwritten notes on materials, workmanship and execution; some sheets also feature leather samples glued to them. As a complete collection, the drawings provide a clear insight into the journey from the initial creative concept to its craftsmanship and impressively document Joop’s early work as a fashion designer.

Another key focus is photography, featuring works by Helmut Newton, Julius Shulman, Annie Leibovitz and Laura Aguilar. Two works from Laura Aguilar’s 'Nature Self-Portrait' from 1996 (estimated price € 8,000–12,000) mark an important turning point in her career. Having previously focused primarily on portraits and studio nudes, Aguilar now incorporated the landscape directly into her self-portraits for the first time. The photographs were taken during a journey through New Mexico and date from a difficult period in the artist’s life, when she was struggling with depression and suicidal thoughts. Working in nature became a positive and healing experience for Aguilar, whilst also opening up a new artistic direction for her. On offer are ‘Nature Self-Portrait #12’ and ‘#13’, each from an edition of ten.

Florian Graf bridges the gap to the present day with his sculpture 'Flow Ever Yours', created in 2025 (estimated price € 12,000–15,000). In this work, the Swiss artist transforms the familiar shape of a watering can into an intricate system of loops and twists, in which the beginning and end are barely discernible. In his own words, Graf sees the work as a symbol of a continuous cycle of giving and receiving: what we give to the world returns to us – via detours and possibly in a different form. The steel sculpture, painted in bright pink, is a unique piece and was acquired directly from the artist at the Basel Social Club in 2025.

You can also look forward to numerous other works of modern and contemporary art, including pieces by Franz von Stuck, Georges Braque, A. R. Penck and Jeff Koons, and discover the diversity of our selection comprising over 170 lots across the fields of painting, sculpture, printmaking and photography.

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