Magdalena Abakanowicz - Modern and Contemporary Editions New York Sunday, November 23, 2008 | Phillips

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  • Catalogue Essay

    A portfolio of seven etchings created by renowned Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, Katarsis (1985) commemorates the artist's most imprtant sculptural commission up to that time and her first work in bronze. The prints in this edition focus on the series of 33 monumental guardian figures planted in the Tuscan soil of the 16th Century palazzo known as Fattoria Celle (Celle Farm) that Giuliano Gori transformed in the 1980's into one of the most important collections of site-specific art in the world. Referring to the ancient Greek work for 'cleansing' or 'purging,' Katarsis pertains to Aristotle's concept in the Poetics regarding the purifying release of emotional tensions that can come after an intense vicarious expereicne. For this series Abakanowicz draws on her long-time interest in the roles of individuals immersed in crowds to create 'spaces for contemplation.' In these etchings, Abakanowicz not only explores these evocative and mythic figures from different angles, including groupsings and close up views, but she also consideres them in relation to the Tuscan hills where they are located. 

83

Katarsis Portfolio

1986
The complete set of seven etchings, on Tiepolo della Cartiera Fabriano, all with full margins,
all approx. I. 25 1/4 x 19 1/4 in. (64.1 x 48.9 cm)
all S. 30 x 22 1/4 in. (76.2 x 56.5 cm)

all signed, dated and numbered 46/100 in pencil, numbered in pencil on the colophon (there was also and edition of 20 in Roman numerals), published by Edizioni Della Bezuga, Florence, all in very good condition, with original brown fabric-covered portfolio with leather oval embossed with artist's name, title and publisher on the front, all framed.

Estimate
$8,000 - 12,000 

Modern and Contemporary Editions

23 Nov 2008, 2pm
New York