faz.net
German Art Market Booms: Jawlensky's "Spanische Tänzerin" Sells for €7 Million
Ketterer auction house in Munich sold Max Beckmann's last painting, "Großer Clown mit Frauen und kleiner Clown," for €3 million, while Alexej von Jawlensky's "Spanische Tänzerin" fetched €7 million, making it the most expensive artwork sold in Germany this year.
- How did the performance of different auction houses compare, and what factors contributed to their success or challenges?
- Alexej von Jawlensky's "Spanische Tänzerin" achieved the highest price at €7 million, highlighting the continued high demand for Expressionist art. Ketterer auction house, celebrating its 70th anniversary, led the market with €89 million in sales.
- What was the most expensive artwork sold at German auction houses this year, and what does its sale indicate about market trends?
- Großer Clown mit Frauen und kleiner Clown," Max Beckmann's last painting, sold for €3 million, exceeding pre-sale estimates. Two other Beckmann works sold for seven-figure sums at Grisebach auction house in Berlin.
- What are the long-term implications of the recent VAT reduction on the German art market, and which segments are likely to benefit most?
- The German art market shows strong performance in modern and contemporary art, with top lots by renowned artists like Beckmann and Jawlensky fetching record-breaking prices. The recent reduction in VAT for art is expected to further boost the market.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the year's art market as a success story, highlighting the record sales and high prices achieved by the top auction houses. This positive framing might downplay the challenges faced by the market and the fact that not all artworks achieved high prices. The focus on high-value sales may inadvertently influence reader perception.
Language Bias
The article uses language like "besten Laune" (best mood) to describe the state of auction houses, which injects subjective sentiment into an ostensibly factual report. Words like "primus" (top) and "eher beliebige" (rather arbitrary) are also value judgments. More neutral language could be used to convey information objectively.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses primarily on the top auction houses and the most expensive pieces sold, potentially omitting smaller auction houses or less expensive artworks. This could create a skewed perception of the overall art market. The article also doesn't discuss the reasons behind the high prices for some pieces, which could give more context to the sales. Further, it lacks information on the number of unsold items, which would paint a more complete picture.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a dichotomy between works that sold well (modern and contemporary art with good provenance) and those that did not (e.g., some Noldes and Liebermanns). This simplification overlooks the complexity of the art market and the various factors influencing prices. It implies a simple formula for success rather than a nuanced interplay of factors.
Gender Bias
The article mentions a collier belonging to a "Bayernprinzessin" (Bavarian princess) focusing on her title rather than her role in the sale or other relevant details. This approach implicitly reinforces gender roles by highlighting the princess' title as a defining characteristic.