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Essay
“Ultimately it’s about making a picture, which reflects my life, my unconscious or conscious desires.”
Nicole Eisenman
In Hunnenschlacht, 2001, Nicole Eisenman reinterprets Wilhelm von Kaulbach’s painting of the same title from 1850 in her inimitable style. The works’ titles translate to “The Battle of the Huns”, and each painting aptly depicts the Huns’ attempt to invade the Roman Empire in 451 CE, notoriously considered as one of the world’s fiercest and most decisive military engagements to date. So merciless was this battle that legend reports the souls of dead warriors continued to fight as they rose into Heaven, as depicted in von Kaulbach’s 19th century masterpiece. Eisenman’s reinterpretation is similarly composed of an entangled assemblage of men representing these souls as they float among the clouds, all donning identical nondescript unitards. Eisenman’s choice to render one of history’s most violent wars through her satirical visual lexicon exemplifies the artist’s commitment to highlighting the prevailing injustices of society. The intricate narratives such as the one in the present work that compose the artist’s oeuvre embrace painterly traditions from the art historical canon and draw from past events to comment on contemporary themes such as identity, gender and inequality in America.
Portraying The Battle of the Huns through a satirical contemporary lens, Eisenman depicts the men in Hunnenschlacht with zombie-like expressions, flailing their limbs with little intention, and in turn, evoking a dystopian uniformity; the work’s caricatured aesthetic, so distictive to Eisenman’s style, further upends the credibility of the figures’ heroism. This disquieting scene likely alludes to the rejection of the stifling gender stereotypes and herd mentality that perpetuate the predilection for a homogeneous society. As Eisenman has remarked, “the power of a crowd is the offer to let individuals dissolve into it. Elias Canetti talked about the moment when the individual gets rid of his difference; that when he joins the crowd. It sounds wonderful or like a nightmare. In drawings with a lot of people, the crowd becomes a block, a world unto itself.”[i]
Referencing other art historical masterworks, this eerie dreamscape analogizes the pioneering genre paintings of Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Just as the renowned Dutch Old Masters painter is celebrated for subverting his detailed renderings of commoners engaged in various activities with moralistic convolutions; Eisenman, likewise, challenges the injustices of society under the approachable guise of her cartoon-like imagery.
Eisenman’s rejection of established societal systems combined with her seemingly ironic embrace of art historical traditions have cleverly defied her work of definition. Her familiar mural-like scenes such as Hunnenschlacht disrupt conventional gender paradigms that inspire her viewers to question these long-standing expectations. As feminist writer Laurie Weeks proclaims, “[Eisenman] restores the ambiguity, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity to the world, and in the process she RE-ENCHANTS it!”[ii]
[i] Laurie Weeks, quoted in, “Eat Me”, Nicole Eisenman, exh. cat., Zurich, 2011, p. 8[ii] Nicole Eisenman, quoted in, “Nicole Eisenman in Conversation with Lynne Tillman”, Nicole Eisenman, exh. cat., Zurich, 2011, p. 16Art Historical Inspiration
Peter Bruegel the Elder, Fight between Carnival and Lent, 1559. Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY 
Wilhelm von Kaulbach, The Battle of the Huns on the Catalaunian Plains, 1837. Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Photo credit bpk Bildagentur / Staatsgalerie / Art Resource, NY-
Peter Bruegel the Elder, Fight between Carnival and Lent, 1559. Erich Lessing / Art Resource, NY - Wilhelm von Kaulbach, The Battle of the Huns on the Catalaunian Plains, 1837. Staatsgalerie, Stuttgart, Photo credit bpk Bildagentur / Staatsgalerie / Art Resource, NY
Provenance
Leo Koenig, Inc., New York
Acquired from the above by the present ownerExhibited
Kunsthalle Zürich, Nicole Eisenman, March 31 - May 20, 2007, p. 90 (illustrated on dust jacket)
Literature
Mathieu Victor, ed., Nicole Eisenman: Selected Works 1994-2004, New York, 2006, pp. 76-77 (illustrated)
Property from an Important European Collection
214
Hunnenschlacht
oil on panel
40 x 50 in. (101.6 x 127 cm)
Painted in 2001.
Estimate
$120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $212,500
Rebekah Bowling
Head of Day Sale, Afternoon Session
New York
1 212 940 1250
20th c. & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Afternoon Session
New York Auction 2 July 2020
201
Jonathan Lyndon Chase
Clothes Shopping
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $50,000
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202
Matthew Wong
Landscape with Young Bather
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $187,500
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203
Nina Chanel Abney
Mr. Baker
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $175,000
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204
Amoako Boafo
After the nail color
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $225,000
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205
Lucas Arruda
Untitled from the series Deserto-Modelo
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $100,000
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206
Vivian Springford
Untitled (Tanzania Series)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $106,250
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207
Ann Craven
Orange Dream, Pink Bird on Pink and Orange Fade, 2006
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,000
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208
Nicolas Party
Landscape
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $32,500
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209
Genieve Figgis
Sunday ladies
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $125,000
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210
Shara Hughes
Home Theater
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $150,000
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211
Brian Calvin
Noon
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $43,750
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212
Jeff Sonhouse
Study for Secretary of State
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $17,500
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213
Noah Davis
100 Years of Entertainment 1-5
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $137,500
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214
Nicole Eisenman
Hunnenschlacht
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $212,500
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215
Robert Colescott
The Monkey Wrench
Estimate $35,000 - 50,000
Sold for $50,000
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216
Rose Wylie
Red Belt, Red Lipstick
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $100,000
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217
Michael Ray Charles
(Forever Free) Icarus
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $67,500
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218
Harold Ancart
Untitled
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $68,750
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219
Walter Price
Aset! Go Tell it on the Mountain
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $43,750
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220
Toyin Ojih Odutola
This is Not An Invitation
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $50,000
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221
Tomoo Gokita
Shoplifting
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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222
Eddie Martinez
You Know Who You Are
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $162,500
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223
Josh Smith
Untitled
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $52,500
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224
KAWS
SMALL KM LANDSCAPE
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
Sold for $250,000
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225
Petra Cortright
marathon training programs map + 50 grey states
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $35,000
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226
Yue Minjun
Two works: Contemporary Terracotta Warriors No. 5
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $150,000
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227
Takashi Murakami
Flower of Joy - Wintermint
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $93,750
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228
Ai Weiwei
Dress with Flowers
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $106,250
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229
Grayson Perry
Between Kitsch and Shit
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $87,500
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230
Damien Hirst
Beautiful, Flaming Lips Day, Form of a Shell Painting
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
Sold for $399,000
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231
Tracey Emin
I could have loved my innocence
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $68,750
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232
Sarah Morris
The Kodak Theatre [Los Angeles]
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $62,500
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233
Gilbert & George
Banker
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
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234
Gilbert & George
Two
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
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235
Paulina Olowska
Klaun
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $62,500
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236
Günther Förg
Untitled
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $106,250
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237
Mel Bochner
Blah, Blah, Blah
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $187,500
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238
Peter Dreher
Two works: (i) Seascape #1; (ii) Seascape #4
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $40,000
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239
George Condo
The Jimi Hendrix Experience from the series Jazz Paintings
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $106,250
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240
Paul McCarthy
Dick Eye
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $75,000
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241
Sterling Ruby
SP188
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $237,500
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242
Seth Price
Sexy Dancer
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $81,250
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243
Christian Marclay
Untitled from the series Imaginary Records
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $6,250
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244
Tom Sachs
Model Three (Model 3 White Boombox)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $40,000
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245
Richard Prince
Untitled (original)
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
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246
Matt Mullican
Two works: (i) Untitled (Diderot, Lettres Capitales); (ii) Untitled (Diderot, Alphabets des Lettres Bâtardes)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $43,750
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247
Richard Prince
Untitled (Check Painting)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
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248
John Baldessari
Double Bill (Part 2): …and Ernst
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $237,500
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249
Cindy Sherman
Untitled #97
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $143,750
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250
Ana Mendieta
El laberinto de la vida (The Labyrinth of Life) from the series Labyrinth of Venus
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $56,250
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251
Cindy Sherman
Untitled #155
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $37,500
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252
Mike Kelley
Nostalgic Depiction of the Innocence of Childhood
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $20,000
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253
Mike Kelley
The Start of the Slave Trade in the English Colonies from the series Reconstructed History
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $5,250
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254
Mike Kelley
Bedknobbed and Broom Struck
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
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255
Cindy Sherman
Untitled (Lucille Ball)
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $15,625
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256
Mike Kelley
Three Valleys
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $10,000
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257
Peter Fischli and David Weiss
The Maid from the series Equilibres
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
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258
Roni Horn
Piece (2)
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $7,500
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259
Anne Collier
Guilt
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $15,000
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260
Hank Willis Thomas and Sanford Biggers
Eshu at the Crossroad
Estimate $5,000 - 7,000
Sold for $6,250
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261
Carrie Mae Weems
Untitled from the series Sea Islands
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $37,500
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262
Rodney Graham
Oak, Mellaar from the series Flanders Trees
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $40,000
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263
Thomas Ruff
Nudes ry08
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,500
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264
Thomas Ruff
Nudes pant11
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $15,000
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265
Günther Förg
Aller Retour
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $56,250
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266
This lot is no longer available.
267
Jim Shaw
Study for A Taste of Honey (Portrait of Bob Flanagan)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
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268
Robert Longo
Untitled (After Delacroix, A Young Tiger Playing with Its Mother, 1830)
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,500
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269
Peter Halley
Untitled (6/24/99.2)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $18,750
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270
Kehinde Wiley
Check II
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $100,000
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271
Lorna Simpson
Gold Head W
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $20,000
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272
Lorna Simpson
Gold Head Q
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $15,000
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273
Oscar Murillo
Untitled
Estimate $12,000 - 15,000
Sold for $13,750
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274
Rirkrit Tiravanija and Tomas Vu
Untitled (The days of this society is numbered)
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $16,250
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275
Chéri Samba
Nelson Mandela
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $32,500
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276
Fred Wilson
Drip Droop
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $13,750
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277
Maurizio Cattelan and Pierpaolo Ferrari
Untitled
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
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278
Barry McGee
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $112,500
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279
Ida Ekblad
Kons
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $15,000
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280
André Butzer
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $20,000
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281
Friedrich Kunath
Finis
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $60,000
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282
Franz Ackermann
evasion XVIII (a building with one window lifted)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $27,500
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283
Heimo Zobernig
Untitled (HZ2014-028)
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $68,750
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284
Heimo Zobernig
Untitled (HZ2013-109)
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $60,000
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285
Shinique Smith
Monochrome
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $17,500
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286
Elliott Hundley
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
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287
Keltie Ferris
++++****)))
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
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288
Camille Henrot
Sans Titre from the series Desktop
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $20,000
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289
Claudia Comte
White Russian
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $45,000
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290
Sadie Benning
Untitled telephone drawing
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $30,000
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291
Katherine Bernhardt
5 Cigarettes on Black
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $26,250
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292
Will Boone
Death Wish
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $10,625
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293
Korakrit Arunanondchai
My trip to the White Temple 10
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $32,500
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294
Tomoo Gokita
Sitcom
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $43,750
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295
Mike Bouchet
Dark Up
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
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296
Ethan Cook
Untitled (Begin in one corner)
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $37,500
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297
Harold Ancart
Perfect Idea (1) (After You Have No Idea)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $30,000
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298
Angel Otero
Untitled (SK-GQ)
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
Sold for $30,000
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299
Sterling Ruby
The Martyr
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $22,500
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300
Bosco Sodi
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $37,500
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301
Juan Muñoz
Three Figure Balcony
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $56,250
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302
Ernesto Neto
Anatomia Do Aconchego - Casa Nave
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $40,000
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303
Subodh Gupta
Untitled
Estimate $35,000 - 45,000
Sold for $52,500
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304
Dan Colen
Oy Vey (3)
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $23,750
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305
Dan Colen
I'm Gonna Be Sick
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $92,500
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306
RETNA
Yo Soy La Corazone Del la Linea Blanca
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $68,750
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307
Harmony Korine
Pajama Reststops
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $18,750
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308
Fredrik Værslev
Untitled (Terrazzo Painting)
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $32,500
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309
Josh Smith
Untitled
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $9,375
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310
Josh Smith
Untitled
Estimate $6,000 - 8,000
Sold for $10,000
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311
Mauro Perucchetti
Luxury Therapy
Estimate $15,000 - 25,000
Sold for $33,750
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