Roberto Matta

Le responsable de l'optimisme

signed "Matta" lower left; further signed, titled and inscribed "le responsable de l'optimisme 201 Matta" on the reverse
oil on canvas
23 3/8 x 28 5/8 in. (59.4 x 72.8 cm.)
Painted in 1959, this work is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued by Alisée Matta.

Estimate
$50,000 - 60,000

Sold for $52,500

Contact Specialist
John McCord
Head of Day Sale, Morning Session
New York
+1 212 940 1261
jmccord@phillips.com

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session

New York Auction 15 May | On View at 432 and 450 Park Avenue

101
Jean Dubuffet
Corps de dame
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $106,250
102
Jean Dubuffet
Personnage (no. 25)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $81,250
103
Jean Dubuffet
Personnage (no. 27)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $81,250
104
Jean Dubuffet
Personnage (P. 14)
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $87,500
105
Jean Dubuffet
Personnage (mi corps)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $212,500
106
Jean Dubuffet
Jouhandeau innocent
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $156,250
107
Jean Dubuffet
Barbe des bourreaux de Paris
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $350,000
108
Jean Dubuffet
Michel Tapié
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $25,000
109
Jean Dubuffet
Deux arabes
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $125,000
110
Jean Dubuffet
Tête griotte
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $143,750
111
Jean Dubuffet
Buste (avec graffiti au couteau)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $225,000
112
Jean Dubuffet
Deux Automobiles (Peugeot, Fiat)
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $81,250
113
Joseph Cornell
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $137,500
114
Joan Miró
Torse de femme
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $350,000
115
Joan Miró
Maquette de l'arc de la Fondation Maeght
Estimate $180,000 - 220,000
Sold for $237,500
116
Jean Dubuffet
Arbre aux deux étages
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $250,000
117
Josef Albers
Study to Homage to the Square - Looking Out
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $275,000
118
Tom Wesselmann
Cut-Out Nude Study
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $268,750
119
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate $350,000 - 450,000
Sold for $450,000
120
Franz Kline
Untitled
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $40,000
121
Hans Hofmann
Pilgrim Heights View - Provincetown
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $100,000
122
Jim Dine
Window Brain
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $40,000
123
Willem de Kooning
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $212,500
124
Willem de Kooning
Untitled
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $162,500
125
Robert Rauschenberg
Untitled
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $250,000
126
John Chamberlain
Tiny Piece #7
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $150,000
127
Claes Oldenburg
Punching Bag
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $200,000
128
Richard Serra
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $200,000
129
Louise Nevelson
Column IV
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $106,250
130
Christo
Orange Store Front (Project) Part I
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $175,000
131
Robert Graham
Source Figure
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $50,000
132
Frank Stella
Misano
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $475,000
133
George Segal
Woman with Sunglasses on Bench
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $275,000
134
Jean Dubuffet
Le verre d'eau
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $52,500
135
Roberto Matta
Le responsable de l'optimisme
Estimate $50,000 - 60,000
Sold for $52,500
136
Frank Stella
Untitled (Concentric Square)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
Sold for $18,750
137
Frank Stella
Conway
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $30,000
138
Alexander Calder
Meadow Grass
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $62,500
139
Alexander Calder
Las Vegas
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $187,500
140
Ed Clark
Hot and Cold
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $337,500
141
Jiro Takamatsu
Shadow (No. 1400)
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
142
Ed Ruscha
Etc.
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
Sold for $387,500
143
Agnes Martin
Untitled
Estimate $350,000 - 450,000
Sold for $375,000
144
Carmen Herrera
Untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $275,000
145
Ellsworth Kelly
Coral Leaf (1)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $106,250
146
Yayoi Kusama
Accretion (No. 1)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $175,000
147
Louise Nevelson
City Series
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
148
Joan Miró
Untitled III
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
149
Pablo Picasso
Femme en buste/ Buste de femme couchée
Estimate $300,000 - 500,000
Sold for $375,000
150
Pablo Picasso
Buste de femme assise dans un fauteuil
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
151
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled (Red/Black Figure)
Estimate $400,000 - 600,000
Sold for $400,000
152
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled (Standing Male Figure)
Estimate $700,000 - 1,000,000
Sold for $800,000
153
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled (Figure with Blue Head)
Estimate $500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $437,500
154
Jean-Michel Basquiat
Untitled (Insect Order)
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
155
Andy Warhol
Map of Eastern U.S.S.R. Missile Bases (Positive)
Estimate $700,000 - 1,000,000
156
Robert Rauschenberg
Bottoms (Syn-Tex Series)
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $112,500
157
John Wesley
Bumstead's Foot
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
Sold for $112,500
158
Roy Lichtenstein
Purist Painting with Dice
Estimate $450,000 - 650,000
Sold for $652,500
159
Andy Warhol
Brillo Soap Pads Box
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $437,500
160
Andy Warhol
Piss
Estimate $500,000 - 700,000
Sold for $644,000
161
John Chamberlain
INCIDENTALLYNEUTERED
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $475,000
162
Dan Flavin
untitled (to Bob and Pat Rohm)
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $325,000
163
Fred Sandback
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $35,000
164
Craig Kauffman
#1-8
Estimate $70,000 - 90,000
165
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Chromointerférence Mécanique
Estimate $180,000 - 220,000
Sold for $162,500
166
Kenneth Noland
Greenbriar
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $337,500
167
Kenneth Noland
Mysteries: To Blue
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $325,000
168
Bernar Venet
Two Indeterminate Lines
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $262,500
169
Richard Serra
Tracks #31
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $475,000
170
Richard Serra
Left Corner Square to the Floor
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $150,000
171
Robert Ryman
CORE XXI
Estimate $70,000 - 90,000
Sold for $137,500
172
Sol LeWitt
Black Cubes
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $112,500
173
Jesús Rafael Soto
Naranja Superior
Estimate $200,000 - 300,000
174
Loló Soldevilla
Untitled
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $75,000
175
Dadamaino
Volume
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $47,500
176
Manolo Valdés
Rostro sobre fondo turquesa
Estimate $180,000 - 250,000
Sold for $225,000
177
Fernando Botero
Portrait of Nadine Haim
Estimate $120,000 - 180,000
178
Fernando Botero
El Rapto de Europa
Estimate $300,000 - 400,000
Sold for $375,000
179
Fernando Botero
Horse
Estimate $600,000 - 800,000
Sold for $740,000
180
This lot is no longer available.
181
Piero Pizzi Cannella
Nero, Ferro, Battuto; Sottile, Ferro, Battuto (Diptych)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
182
Lucio Fontana
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 100,000
Sold for $131,250
183
Mario Merz
Una lunghissima domenica
Estimate $180,000 - 200,000
Sold for $187,500
184
Jannis Kounellis
Untitled
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $137,500
185
Armando Morales
Trois Baigneuses
Estimate $70,000 - 90,000
Sold for $87,500
186
Francisco Toledo
Luz’ de Foco
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $106,250
187
Mark Tobey
Desert Town (Wild City)
Estimate $100,000 - 150,000
Sold for $87,500
188
Alexander Calder
Brooch
Estimate $20,000 - 35,000
Sold for $50,000
189
Max Ernst
Portrait d’ un ancêtre (Portrait of an ancestor)
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $175,000
190
Rodolfo Nieto
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $30,000
191
Carlos Cruz-Diez
Sin título (serie Signos vegetales)
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $56,250
192
Helen Frankenthaler
White Rose of Sharon
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
193
Franz Kline
Black, White, Brown
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
194
Hans Hofmann
Fragrance
Estimate $280,000 - 350,000
195
Willem de Kooning
Study for a Woman
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
196
David Smith
A Sketch for a Sculpture (Raven Series)
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $43,750
197
Sandú Darié
Untitled
Estimate $28,000 - 32,000
Sold for $75,000
198
Atsuko Tanaka
85-E
Estimate $250,000 - 350,000
Sold for $200,000
199
Shozo Shimamoto
Untitled
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
200
Sam Gilliam
Pantheon I
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
201
Romare Bearden
Mecklenburg Monday
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $62,500
202
Saul Steinberg
The Real Table
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
203
Richard Estes
Turkey Landscape
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
204
Philip Pearlstein
Model with Empire State Building
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $125,000
205
Tom Wesselmann
Study for Bedroom Blonde, Black and Green Pillows
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $60,000
206
Tom Wesselmann
Study for Still Life with Matisse & Johns
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
207
Tom Wesselmann
Double Study for Bedroom Painting #22
Estimate $70,000 - 100,000
Sold for $87,500
208
Patrick Nagel
Kristen
Estimate $60,000 - 90,000
Sold for $300,000
209
Christo
Surrounded Islands (Project for Biscayne Bay, Greater Miami, Florida)
Estimate $60,000 - 80,000
Sold for $100,000
210
Christo
Running Fence (Project for Sonoma County and Marin County, State of California)
Estimate $70,000 - 90,000
Sold for $187,500
211
John Chamberlain
Untitled
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
Sold for $100,000
212
John Chamberlain
Fleabane (Marsh)
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $47,500
213
Andy Warhol
Portrait of a Woman (Linda Oxenberg)
Estimate $150,000 - 200,000
Sold for $412,500
214
Andy Warhol
Elixir de Markoff Royal Jelly
Estimate $18,000 - 25,000
215
Susan Rothenberg
Untitled
Estimate $8,000 - 12,000
Sold for $10,000
216
Eduardo Terrazas
2.30, From the series "Tablas"
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $50,000
217
Kazuya Sakai
Pintura N°14, Série II
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $30,000
218
Sir Frank Bowling, R.A.
Mooring
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $60,000
219
Sir Frank Bowling, R.A.
Three works: (i) Resting; (ii) Alighting; (iii) Hovering
Estimate $80,000 - 120,000
220
Kenneth Noland
Winds 82-28
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
221
Robert Motherwell
Pall Mall on Blue
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $50,000
222
Richard Pettibone
Frank Stella Takht-I-Sulayman II, 1968
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $75,000
223
Sol LeWitt
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $62,500
224
Sol LeWitt
Complex Form
Estimate $18,000 - 22,000
Sold for $20,000
225
Sol LeWitt
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $16,250
226
Howard Mehring
Primal
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $25,000
227
Thomas Downing
Blue Tender
Estimate $30,000 - 50,000
Sold for $200,000
228
Sam Gilliam
Untitled
Estimate $15,000 - 20,000
Sold for $40,000
229
Sam Gilliam
Untitled
Estimate $10,000 - 15,000
Sold for $93,750
230
Michael Goldberg
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
Sold for $37,500
231
Alfred Leslie
Seated Figure
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
232
Sam Francis
Untitled
Estimate $30,000 - 40,000
233
Milton Resnick
Idyl
Estimate $12,000 - 18,000
Sold for $93,750
234
Waltercio Caldas
Wood Wind
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
Sold for $37,500
235
Pedro Coronel
Roma
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
Sold for $112,500
236
Cundo Bermúdez
La Chismosa
Estimate $50,000 - 70,000
237
Roberto Fabelo
Cautiva
Estimate $40,000 - 60,000
238
Carlos Rojas
Untitled (from the Mujeres en Faja series)
Estimate $25,000 - 35,000
239
Shuji Mukai
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $22,500
240
Louise Nevelson
Untitled
Estimate $20,000 - 30,000
Sold for $27,500

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale,...

New York Auction 15 May | On View at 432 and 450 Park Avenue

Provenance

Ο135

Roberto Matta

Le responsable de l'optimisme

20th Century & Contemporary Art Day Sale, Morning Session