Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's New York, November 16 and 17, 2011

By Carter B. Horsley

The fall Latin American Art auction at Sotheby's New York is highlighted by a very beautiful still life painting by Angel Zárraga, superb paintings by David Alfaro Siquieros, Claudio Bravo, and very good paintings by Rufino Tamayo, Wilfredo Lam and Boris Viskin.

Lot 5, "Nature Morte," by Angel Zárraga (1886-1946) is an excellent small oil on artist board that measures 16 by 13 inches. The lot also comes withtwo small works on paper by the artist and has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $134,500 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

Lot 204, "P U Disfrazado de Nube," by Boris Viskin, oil on canvas, 71 inches square, 2003

In contemporary and post-war art, it is not unusual for some artists to "subdivide" their compositions into different sections, often in different sizes. It usually does not work well. Lot 204, "P U Disfrazado de Nube," by Boris Viskin (b. 1960) offers a different and much more successful take. The work is a 71-inch square oil on a single canvas even though it looks like there are five or more different canvases. Except for the small center section (s), the four large "outer" sections have limited and related palettes for whites and blues. The work entices the viewer to imagine almost infinite varieties with different palettes and different brushstrokes. The work is very effective and has a very modest estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.

Lot 15, "Seraphim (White, Yellow and Green)," by Claudio Bravo, oil on canvas, 58 5/8 by 78 3/4 inches

Lot 15 is a large and very impressive drapery painting by Claudio Bravo (1936-2011) entitled "Seraphim (White, Yellow and Green)." An oil on canvas, it measures 58 5/8 by 78 3/4 inches. It has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000. It sold for $992,500.

Lot 13, ""Re-evolvers (the couple)," by Matta, oil on canvas, 81 7/8 by 75 inches, circa 1953-4

The auction contains several works by Matta. Lot 13, "Re-evolvers (the couple)," is unusual in that its composition is almost symmetrical. An oil on canvas, it measures 81 7/8 by 75 inches and was painted circa 1953-4. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 58, "Galaxies d'Line Flamme," by Matta, oil on canvas, 65 by 79 inches, 1990

Lot 58 is an excellent work by Matta entitled "Galaxies d'Line Flamme." An oil on canvas that measures 65 by 79 inches, it was painted in 1990. It has an estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. It sold for $158,500.

Lot 201, "Coeur Vole," by Matta, oil on canvas, 42 1/4 by 39 5/8 inches, 1976

Lot 201, "Coeur Vole," is a strong and colorful oil on canvas by Matta. It measures 42 1/4 by 39 5/8 inches and was painted in 1976. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $80,000. It sold for $116,500.

Lot 12, "Bonjour Monsieur Lam (au commencement de la nuit)," by Wilfredo Lam, oil on burlap, 29 1/2 by 59 1/4 inches, 1959

Lot 12 is a large and very impressive oil on burlap by Wilfredo Lam (1902-1982). Entitled "Bonjour Monsieur Lam (au commencement de la nuit)," it measures 29 1/2 by 59 1/4 inches and was executed in 1959. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $800,000. It sold for $$674,500.

Lot 24, "Idoli," by Wilfredo Lam, oil on canvas, 31 by 40 inches

Lot 24 is a very strong and sriking oil on canvas by Wilfredo Lam. It measures 31 by 40 inches. It is entitled "Idoli" and has an estimate of $200,000 to $250,000. It sold for $230,500.

Lot 170, "Untitled," by Wilfredo Lam, pastel and crayon on paper, 25 1/2 inches square, 1965

Lot 70 is a strong untitled pastel and crayon on paper by Wilfredo Lam. It is 25 1/2 inches square and was created in 1965. It has an estimate of $22,000 to $25,000. It sold for $22,500.

Lot 14, "La India del Lago," by Alfredo Ramos Martinez, oil on canvas, 34 1/4 by 30 1/8 imches, circa 1938

The illustration of the catalogue's back cover is Lot 14, "La India del Lago," a lovely oil on canvas by Alfredo Ramos Martinez (1871-1946). It measures 34 1/4 by 30 1/8 inches and was painted circa 1938. It has an estimate of $900,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $962,500. Phoebe Hearst, the daugher of William Randolph Hearst, paid Martinez a monthly stipend for several years to study in Paris.

Lot 59, "Natura Morta con Tenda Verde," by Fernanco Botero, watercolor on paper, 35 by 39 1/2 inches

Lot 59 is a very impressive and large watercolor on paper by Fernando Botera (b. 1932) entitled "Natura Morta con Tenda Verde." It measures 35 by 39 1/2 inches. It has an estimate of $160,000 to $180,000. It sold for $302,500.

Lot 31, "Rostro Oculto," by Gunther Gerzso, oil on masonite, 27 3/4 by 24 1/2 inches, 1998

Lot 31 is a very bright and fine oil on masonite by Gunther Gerzso (1915-2000) entitled "Rostro Oculto." It measures 27 3/4 by 24 1/2 inches and was painted in 1998. It has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000. It sold for $68,500.

Lot 143,"untitled," by Gunther Gerzso, graphite, colored pencil and crayon on paper, 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches, 1954

Lot 143 is a small, untitled work by Gunther Gerzso that is very striking. A graphite, colored pencil and crayon on paper, it measures 8 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches and was executed in 1954. It has an estimate of $18,000 to $22,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 6, "Watermelon Slices," by Rufino Tamayo, oil on canvas, 39 3/8 by 31 3/4 inches, 1950

The cover illustration of the catalogue is Lot 6, "Watermelon Slices," by Rufino Tamayo. An oil on canvas that measures 39 3/8 by 31 3/4 inches, it was painted in 1950 and has been consigned by the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It was once in the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lewisohn and from 1974 to 2010 it was exhibited at the United Nations. It has an estimate of $1,500,000 to $2,000,000. It sold for $2,210,500.

Lot 20, "El Tragafuego," by Rufino Tamayo, oil on canvas, 31 3/4 by 39 3/4 inches, 1955

Lot 20 is a very good oil on canvas by Rufino Tamayo entitled "El Tragafuego" (The Fireeater). It measures 31 3/4 by 39 3/4 inches and was painted in 1955. It has an estimate of $400,000 to $500,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 16, "Tres Figuras," by Rufino Tamayo, oil and sand on canvas, 51 by 77 inches, 1966

Lot 16 is an extremely colorful, complex and impressive oil and sand on canvas by Rufino Tamayo. It measures 51 by 77 inches and was painted in 1966. It has been exhibited at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. It has an estimate of $750,000 to $950,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 21, "Incendio al Atardecer (Fire at Dusk)," by David Alfaro Siqueiros, oil on masonite, 51 3/4 by 23 1/4 inches, 1957

Lot 21 is an interesting work by David Alfaro Siqueiros (1896-1974) entitled "Incendio al Atardecer (Fire at Dusk)." An oil on masonite, it measures 51 3.4 by 23 1/4 inches and was painted in 1957. It has an estimate of $175,000 to $225,000. It sold for $470,500.

Lot 133, "Flor de Mangle," by Alejandro Obregón, oil on board, 12 by 9 1/8 inches, circa 1966

Lot 133, "Flor de Mangle," by Alejandro Obregón (1920-1992), is one of the most beautiful works in the auction. An oilon board that measures 12 by 9 1/8 inches, it was painted circa 1966. It has an estimate of $18,000 to $22,0000. It sold for $16,250.

Lot 167, "Villal Umu," by Fernando de Szyszlo, acrylic on canvas, 40 by 29 1/2 inches, 1987

Lot 167 is a beautiful acrylic on canvas by Fernando de Szyszlo (b. 1925). It is entitled "Villal Umu" and measures 40 by 29 1/2 inches and was painted in 1987. It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $53,125.

Lot 45, "Mujer Banadose" by Diego Rivera, watercolor on ricepaper, 15 1/4 by 10 7/8 inches

Lot 45 is a very beautiful watercolor on rice paper of a naked woman bathing in a river by Diego Rivera (1885-1957). It measures 15 1/4 by 10 7/8 inches. It has an estimate of $90,000 to $120,000. It sold for $116,500.

Lot 144, "Instrumento de Cuerdas," by Juan Roberto Diago, oilon canvas, 46 3/4 by 34 3/4 inches

Lot 144 is a lovely abstraction by Juan Roberto Diago (b. 1971). An oil on canvas it is entitled "Instrumento de Cuerdas" and measures 46 3/4 by 34 3/4 inches. It has an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $17,500.

Lot 148, "El Muro Azul," by Elsa Gramcko, mixed media assemblange on cement and wood panel, 15 3/4 by 25 1/2 inches, 1963

Lot 148, "El Muro Azul," is a very fine mixed media assemblage on cement and wood panel by Elsa Gramcko (1925-1994). It measures 15 3/4 by 25 1/2 inches and was created in 1963. It has an estimate of $18,000 to $22,000. It sold for $52,500.

Lot 19, "Mariche 2," by Jesus Rafael Soto, acrylic on wood panel and painted metal, 80 by 80 by 5 1/2 inches, 1997, left; Lot 38, "Color Vertical," by Soto, painted metal elements on wood panel, 40 1/8 inches square

The auction has several works by Jesus Rafael Soto (1923-2005). Lot 19, "Mariche 2," is a 1997 composition of acrylic on wood panel and painted metal. It measures 80 by 80 by 5 1/2 inches. It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000. It sold for $362,500.

Lot 38 is a strong composition by Soto entitled "Color Vertical." It is 40 1/8 inchjes square and is painted metal elements on wood panel. It has an estimate of $140,000 to $180,000. It sold for $218,500.