Various Artists - The Estate of Mrs. Harry N. Abrams New York Wednesday, April 7, 2010 | Phillips

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  • Catalogue Essay

    One evening in 1933, six artists gathered at the Brooklyn Heights apartment of Edgar Levy and his wife Lucille Corcos at 66 Montague Street.  Adolph Gottlieb was there with his wife Esther Dick and David Smith with his wife Dorothy Dehner.  It was decided to make an etching, each one to make a portrait of another.  Who was to portray whom was determined by drawing lots.  The zinc plate was divided into six parts - Top row: Lucille Corcos by Dorothy Dehner, David Smith by Lucille Corcos, Adolph Gottlieb by Edgar Levy.  Bottom row: Edgar Levy by Esther Gottlieb, Dorothy Dehner by Adolph Gottlieb, Esther Gottlieb by David Smith.  The animals in the borders are by Edgar Levy.  The resulting plate was proofed and a few copies made in 1933, but it wasn't until 1974 when the edition of 100 was printed.

THIS LOT IS SOLD WITH NO RESERVE

29

Portraits of Adolph Gottlieb, Esther Dick Gottleib, Edgar Levy, Lucille Corcos Levy, David Smith and Dorothy Dehner Smith

1933-74
Etching.
6 x 7 7/8 in. (15.2 x 20 cm).
Signed by Dorothy Dehner, Edgar Levy, Esther Gottleib and David Corcos Levy in black ink on the accompanying information sheet (David Corcos Levy is Edgar Levy's son, who was responsible for the plate being printed 31 years after it's creation, three participating artists survived at the time of printing), from the edition of 100. 

Estimate
$800 - 1,200 

Sold for $750

The Estate of Mrs. Harry N. Abrams

7 April 2010
New York