Victor Vasarely

Galerie Lahumière, Paris
Acquired directly from the above by the present owner in 1998

Colour: The colours in the catalogue illustration are fairly accurate, although the overall tonality is slightly deeper and richer, with the white of the backdrop tending more towards cream and the orange-brown at the top edge to dark terracotta brown in the original. Condition: This work is in very good condition. There are a few extremely fine and unobtrusive hairline cracks to the extreme overturn edges and two fine feather cracks to the lower part of the upper left quadrant and to the white pigment in the centre of the upper right quadrant. Upon close inspection there are a few spots of fine and stable craquelure to the burgundy pigment in the lower part of the composition and in a few isolated places elsewhere to the upper half. There are a few tiny spots of media loss: towards the right corner on the lower extreme edge, one 5 cm in from the upper left extreme edge, another towards the bottom of the left extreme edge and a few tiny pinprick-sized losses in a few isolated places elsewhere. There is a very short faint rub mark to the right of the burgundy diamond shape of the upper left side of the composition and the lower left corner is very slightly ruibbed. Two minute fly spots are visible on close examination to the lower part of the white paint in the upper right quadrant, there is a further spot to the white pigment beneath and another to the white pigment to the left of the top left corner. There are two pinprick-sized media accretions to the beige pigment adjacent to the upper part of the left edge. No restoration is apparent under ultraviolet light.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This work will be included in the forthcoming Victor Vasarely Catalogue Raisonné being prepared by Mme Michèle Vasarely