“I had a lot of fun on the farm with my cousin Archie. He’d been in the battalion that liberated Buchenwald and he told me they had used one room there for the latrine. He said he mistook a moonbeam for a piece of toilet paper on the latrine floor and tried to pick it up. ‘Damn, have you ever tried to wipe your ass with a moonbeam?’ I later made a print based on this image called Moon Beam Mistaken for the News.”
—James RosenquistOn the night of February 12, 1971, the non-stop party of the sixties during which Rosenquist enjoyed tremendous personal and professional success ended abruptly, on a dark and rain-swept Florida road. The Rosenquist family, including the artist, his then-wife Mary Lou, and their son John, were involved in a serious car accident, in which they were struck by not one, but two drivers: the first being a hit-and-run, the second being a result of the pouring rain and horrible driving conditions. While his wife remained in a coma for a month and eight-year-old John was unconscious for six weeks, Rosenquist emerged comparatively lucky, with three broken ribs and a concussion. In the aftermath of the wreck Rosenquist developed the prints of Cold Light Suite with master printer Donald Saff at Graphicstudio, many images punctuated by a cold, white moon-circle.

“We had not yet tired of watching television images of men walking on the moon. The excitement generated by visions of space exploration, the moon, the cosmos and all that is implied by humankind’s adventure into space was still at the forefront of the imagination of thoughtful people around the world.”
—Donald Saff, Graphicstudio master printerThis moon motif illuminates personal stories, remembrances, and the political climate of the moment, variously referring to the state of our planet and our actions on it in a reflection of Rosenquist’s own thoughtfulness about the world. Even when referencing the most lighthearted of stories, like the toilet paper anecdote from cousin Archie, Cold Light Suite remains visually more somber, poetic, and meditative, alluding to the loneliness of the isolated American flag on the moon (Mirrored Flag) and global events of war and conflict as reported in Tampa Tribune (Moon Beam Mistaken for the News and Cold Light). Conflation of the moon with newspapers suggests that space exploration might provide a new context for understanding earthly events, newspapers “coloring” (evident in the rainbow roll of Cold Light) our public perception of them, perhaps implying that mass media helps us separate current events from their material reality.

Other works in the series reflect more generally upon the results of space travel (Delivery Hat, lot 213), and the passage of time (Earth and Moon, lot 215). The tonality of the entire Cold Light Suite reflects Rosenquist’s state of mind following his accident, presenting a cool-toned, relative darkness compared to the multicolored vibrancy of his preceding compositions. The result are prints that embody the multipronged experience of existentialism, fright, and serenity that one imagines is felt while being on the moon.

Though the car accident would irrevocably alter Rosenquist’s life – a theme to which the artist further explored in the 1973-74 lithograph Off the Continental Divide (lot 223), Cold Light Suite played a crucial role in the family’s immediate recovery; given the family’s mounting medical expenses, the suite was sold in its entirety to cover the debt Rosenquist had accumulated. Cold Light Suite demarcates a turning point Rosenquist’s dynamic life and foreshadows his growing interest in outer space that would come to dominate the imagery of his later prints.
- Exhibited
  Houston, The Menil Collection and The Museum of Fine Arts, James Rosenquist: A Retrospective, May 17 – August 17, 2003 (Moon Beam Mistaken for the News, this impression)
  New York, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, James Rosenquist: A Retrospective, October 16, 2003 – January 18, 2004 (Moon Beam Mistaken for the News, this impression)
- Literature
  Constance Glenn 37, 38 and 40
  Ruth Fine and Mary Lee Corlett, Graphicstudio: Contemporary Art from the Collaborative Workshop at the University of South Florida, 1991, cat. no. 210, 215 and 216
  Walter Hopps and Sarah Bancroft, James Rosenquist: A Retrospective, 2003, no. 247, p. 345 (Moon Beam Mistaken for the News)

214

James Rosenquist

Mirrored Flag; Moon Beam Mistaken for the News; and Cold Light, from Cold Light Suite (G. 37-38 & 40)

1971
Three lithographs in colors, one with mirrored Mylar foil collage, on Arches Cover paper, the full sheets.
one S. 29 x 22 1/4 in. (73.7 x 56.5 cm)
two S. 22 1/4 x 30 in. (56.5 x 76.2 cm)
All signed, titled and dated, Mirrored Flag annotated 'artist proof', Moon Beam Mistaken for the News numbered 46/70 and Cold Light numbered 33/70 in pencil and white pencil respectively (there were also 3 or 1 artist's proofs), published by Graphicstudio, University of South Florida, Tampa (with their blindstamp), two framed.

Full Cataloguing

Estimate
$3,000 - 5,000

Sold for $7,620

Contact Specialist

editions@phillips.com
212-940-1220

Works from the James Rosenquist Estate

New York Auction 15 February 2024

200
James Rosenquist
Circles of Confusion, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume I (G. 10)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $2,794
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201
James Rosenquist
Whipped Butter for Eugene Ruchin, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume II (G. 11)
Estimate $400 - 600
Sold for $3,556
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202
James Rosenquist
For Love, from 11 Pop Artists, Volume III (G. 13)
Estimate $1,000 - 2,000
Sold for $2,540
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203
James Rosenquist
F-111 (Leo Castelli Gallery)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $6,350
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204
James Rosenquist
A Drawing While Waiting for an Idea (S. 6, G. 14)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $2,794
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205
James Rosenquist
Morning Mirror (G. 15)
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $2,286
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206
James Rosenquist
Circles of Confusion & Lite Bulb
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $3,556
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207
James Rosenquist
Small Doorstop
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $95,250
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208
James Rosenquist
Forehead I; and Forehead II (G. 20 & 21)
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $3,048
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209
James Rosenquist
See-Saw, Class Systems (G. 22)
Estimate $500 - 700
Sold for $2,794
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210
James Rosenquist
Night Smoke II (S. 15, G. 26)
Estimate $1,500 - 2,500
Sold for $3,302
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211
James Rosenquist
Spaghetti (G. 31)
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $10,795
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212
James Rosenquist
Tumbleweed (G. 32)
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $889
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213
James Rosenquist
Delivery Hat, from Cold Light Suite (G. 35)
Estimate $400 - 600
Sold for $1,651
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214
James Rosenquist
Mirrored Flag; Moon Beam Mistaken for the News; and Cold Light, from Cold Light Suite (G. 37-38 & 40)
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $7,620
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215
James Rosenquist
Earth and Moon, from Cold Light Suite (G. 43)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $5,715
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216
James Rosenquist
Pulling Out (G. 47)
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $3,048
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217
James Rosenquist
Hey! Let's Go for a Ride (G. 55)
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $9,525
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218
James Rosenquist
Brighter than the Sun (G. 57)
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $3,048
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219
James Rosenquist
Short Schedule (S. 1972.05, G. 61)
Estimate $500 - 700
Sold for $2,540
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220
James Rosenquist
Banner #1
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $3,302
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221
James Rosenquist
Banner #2
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $9,525
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222
James Rosenquist
First [When was the first time you had your eyes examined?] (G. 64)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $2,286
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223
James Rosenquist
Off the Continental Divide (S. 17, G. 69)
Estimate $7,000 - 10,000
Sold for $6,985
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224
James Rosenquist
F-111 (south) (west) (north) (east) (G. 73)
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $228,600
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225
James Rosenquist
Tampa—New York 1188 (G. 81)
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $9,525
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226
James Rosenquist
Head Stand (G. 777, G. 104)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $2,286
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227
James Rosenquist
Terrarium (G. 154)
Estimate $1,000 - 1,500
Sold for $2,286
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228
James Rosenquist
Industrial Cottage (G. 159)
Estimate $1,000 - 1,500
Sold for $2,286
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229
James Rosenquist
Sheer Line (S. 1979.41, G. 163)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $4,826
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230
James Rosenquist
Idea I; and Idea II (G. 165 & 166)
Estimate $600 - 900
Sold for $1,397
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231
James Rosenquist
Doorskin (G. 168)
Estimate $1,000 - 2,000
Sold for $1,651
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232
James Rosenquist
Chambers (S. 19, G. 173)
Estimate $800 - 1,200
Sold for $1,270
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233
James Rosenquist
Dog Descending a Staircase (S. 20, G. 174)
Estimate $6,000 - 9,000
Sold for $16,510
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234
James Rosenquist
High Technology and Mysticism: A Meeting Point (G. 180-186)
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $4,826
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235
James Rosenquist
The Glass Wishes: eight plates (G. 1014-1016, 1018-1019, 1021, 1023 & 1024, G. 187-189, 191-192, 194, 196 & 197)
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $3,810
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236
James Rosenquist
The Kabuki Blushes, from Secrets in Carnations (G. 206)
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $7,620
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237
James Rosenquist
Welcome to the Water Planet (G. 211)
Estimate $4,000 - 6,000
Sold for $10,160
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238
James Rosenquist
The Prickly Dark (G. 212)
Estimate $3,000 - 5,000
Sold for $6,096
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239
James Rosenquist
The Bird of Paradise Approaches the Hot Water Planet, from Welcome to the Water Planet (G. 214)
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $44,450
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240
James Rosenquist
Time Door Time D'Or, from Welcome to the Water Planet (G. 218)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $30,480
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241
James Rosenquist
Space Dust, from Welcome to the Water Planet (G. 219)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $21,590
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242
James Rosenquist
Caught One Lost One for the Fast Student or Star Catcher, from Welcome to the Water Planet (G. 222)
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $7,620
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243
James Rosenquist
House of Fire (G. 223)
Estimate $15,000 - 25,000
Sold for $25,400
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244
James Rosenquist
The Light Bulb Shining (G. 228)
Estimate $2,500 - 3,500
Sold for $7,620
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245
James Rosenquist
Speed of Light
Estimate $15,000 - 25,000
Sold for $39,370
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246
James Rosenquist
The Stowaway Peers Out at the Speed of Light
Estimate $15,000 - 25,000
Sold for $27,940
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247
James Rosenquist
The Xenophobic Movie Director or Our Foreign Policy
Estimate $7,000 - 9,000
Sold for $6,985
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248
James Rosenquist
The Memory Continues but the Clock Disappears
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $10,160
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249
James Rosenquist
Time Lines
Estimate $2,000 - 3,000
Sold for $7,938
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Works from the James Rosenquist Estate

New York Auction 15 February 2024

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Exhibited

Literature

214

James Rosenquist

Mirrored Flag; Moon Beam Mistaken for the News; and Cold Light, from Cold Light Suite (G. 37-38 & 40)

Works from the James Rosenquist Estate

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