Rating and value of paintings by Pierre Alechinsky
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Rating and value of the artist
An important figure in Expressionism and Surrealism, Pierre Alechinsky has established himself as an indisputable player in the art market.
Highly prized and sought-after in auction rooms, some of his works can fetch hundreds of thousands of euros - they are sold on the auction market for between €10 and €1,150,000, displaying a rising quotation, as evidenced by his oil on canvas Mur d'oiseaux, dating from 1958, sold for €1,150,000 in 2018, while it was estimated at between €350,000 and €500,000.
Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious
Technique used | Result |
|---|---|
Sculpture - volume | From €300 to €20,000 |
Ceramics | From €420 to €25,470 |
Estamp - multiple | From €10 to €57,900 |
Drawing - watercolor | From €10 to €211,600 |
Painting | From €40 to €1,150,000 |
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The artist's style and technique
Pierre Alechinsky's work is inspired by Japanese calligraphy, accentuated by his travels to the Far East in 1955, and illustrated in his documentary film Calligraphie japonaise.
He adopts a fluid, spontaneous gesture with pen or brush, close to a written language freed from narrative constraint. He invents compositions with multiple reading levels, framing his central figure with illustrated margins (marginalia), thus creating a dynamic between center and periphery.
His works combine organic forms evoking animals, plants or natural forces, with lyrical, poetic abstraction. His plastic language oscillates between spontaneity and formal mastery, at the crossroads of surrealism and abstract expressionism.
He trained at Stanley Hayter's Atelier 17, and masters engraving, lithography, aquatint and etching, which he uses with inventiveness. The artist also uses maroufalge, a technique of gluing paper to canvas, preserving the liveliness of the ink while ensuring the durability of the support. This is a method he passed on to Keith Haring.
He gradually abandoned thick oils for more fluid, applied acrylics, favoring a light, expressive rendering from 1965 onwards. In some respects, his work parallels that of lyrical abstraction painters.
Pierre Alechinsky cultivates a rather dreamlike repertoire, often dominated by free gestural writing and lively compositions ; evoking the unconscious and visual narrative.
The life of Pierre Alechinsky
Pierre Alechinsky (1927 - ) was born in Schaerbeek (Brussels), to a father of Russian and Jewish origin. He became a naturalized Belgian citizen because his mother was Walloon. From 1944 to 1948, he studied illustration, typography, printing and photography at the École nationale supérieure d'Architecture et des Arts décoratifs de La Cambre, in Brussels.
In 1949, he joined the CoBra group, along with other artists such as Dotremont, Doucet, Appel, Constant and Corneille. With them, he takes part in exhibitions, the first of which is held in Amsterdam. He organizes the group's second international exhibition in Liège, is also an active contributor to the group's magazine.
His first solo exhibition took place in 1954 at Galerie Nina Dausset, followed by a major show at the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels.
His work is also the result of Far Eastern influences and technical innovations. In 1955, he traveled to Japan, where he studied calligraphy and made a film on the subject. This research and the calligraphic tradition would have a heavy impact on his artistic practice.
From 1953, he settled in Bougival, where he perfected the techniques of marouflage (collage of paper on canvas), which blends calligraphy and inks with the pictorial medium. From the 1960s onwards, his works were exhibited in London, Bern, Venice (Biennale), Pittsburgh, New York and Amsterdam, contributing to his international reputation.
In 1983, he became professor of painting at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris. In 1994, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by the Université libre de Bruxelles, followed by the Légion d'honneur in 2006, and the Praerium Imperiale prize in 2018.
His career now spans more than seven decades. He produces paintings, prints, films and various artistic collaborations. His work can be found in prestigious institutions such as MoMA, the Tate, Belgium's Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Museum Ludwig in Cologne and the Walker Art Center in Mineapolis.
.Market segmentation and artist's rating
The most expensive work auctioned for the artist is Wall of Birds, sold for 1,601,105 USD at Christie's Paris in 2018. The average estimated value over 12 months is around 66,700 USD for paintings, compared with around 11,000 USD for works on paper.
In recent results, Lanscape by Slice, estimated at between 150,000 and 200,000 GBP reached 277,250 GPB at Christie's France. At Lempertz Cologne, Copeaux d'ivoire reached €82,700, Le blanc-manger fetched €44,640, while Processionnaire fetched €42,500.
Some mediums are naturally valued, as is the case for many artists. Iconic paintings often fetch between €100,000 and €300,000, with the potential to exceed €1 million for key works.
Works on paper and watercolors typically range from €750 to €4,000, depending on print and technique. Objects and unconventional pieces (enamelled trays, collages) are often estimated at between €40,000 and €60,000.
Average prices thus indicate a strong valuation of original paintings, compared with printed prints. Some recent sales show a delay in outperformance compared with initial estimates, sometimes reaching 85% above the low estimate.
The market is therefore buoyant, with sales split between private amateurs, museum institutions and specialist collectors.
His signature
Not all of Pierre Alechinsky's works are signed.
Although there are variations, here is a first example of his signature:
Expertise your property
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