Framing the Figure- Over 40 works for Private Sale at Christies New York

Representing the human figure is the most primitive thing we do as human beings. By recognizing the other through lines and shapes, we understand ourselves as moving and living bodies. We tend to mirror the visual contours as a form of knowledge, something that happens before we can communicate through words. Think about yourself- you probably first tried to draw a stick man before knowing how to say "mum" or "dad". Also, until this day in art school, students are encouraged to master the human figure before allowing creativity to flow in their veins. 

For this reason, the human figure representations throughout art history are an incredible resource to understand things as socio-economic settings, political backgrounds, cultural values and psychological patterns of a certain period. 

Not only we, as creative and communicative beings, express the human figure through visual processes but also, we enjoy seeing images with human body represented. It is indeed fulfilling to relate to a particular image as a mirror of ourselves - either physically or psychologically - and that's the power of the human figure in art. 

Christie's has opened a private sale for those interested in these explorations of the human figure, "Framing the Figure".This private sale captures different styles and generations of artists through a selection of 40 works. "Framing the Figure"exposes the ever-going concerns of human nature around its form, purpose and existence in the world through the voices of artists such as Willem de Kooning, Alex Katz, Diane Arbus, and so many others.

To illustrate these different practices and ways of perceiving the human figure, we chose some artworks within this auction. First, Pablo Picasso 'Tête de femme' (1940), a classic from the cubist period! The female figure's decomposition is evident: the round body shapes become geometric, allowing the viewer to enter an imaginary space of perceptions between the real and the unreal. To contrast, we chose John Currin "Venus with Watch". Although it was painted around 2012, this painting resembles Renaissance paintings with smooth edges in-between colour-tones and delicate bright highlights. The only detail that may remind us of the time it was produced is the woman's colourful pearl necklace. Such an extraordinary contrasting detail!

It has opened on the 5th of February and will run until the 9th of March, both online and in-person at Christie's New York. 

Click here to see more details. 

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All images via Christies