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KATARINAHISSEN III by GAN to be sold at Modern Art + Design 21 November

First time ever at auction for the absolute masterpiece

Bukowskis is proud to present GAN’s masterpiece Katarinahissen III (1916/17), estimated at 5-6 000 000 SEK, at the Modern Art + Design sale on the evening of 21 November.

The artwork, which has never before been sold at auction, was first exhibited at the artist’s famous 1918 exhibition at Gummesons Konsthall in Stockholm, then under the name ”Matroser vid Katarinahissen III”. The artwork was then unsold, in actual fact only one of the artworks from the entire exhibition was sold at the time. GAN himself was worried about how his work would be received, and wrote in his diary: ”There were no cowboys - but Katarinahissen no, 3 with predator-like pain and wide shouldered sailors. The drawing in black and blue and red is attached to the canvas - and as always I am anxious and worried. To not succeed.”

Today the painting is considered to be one of GAN’s absolute masterpieces with all the significant components of his artistry represented. The record sale for an artwork by GAN is 6,6 million SEK for Matroser i Gröna Lund II, from 1918, which was sold by Bukowskis in the autumn 2015.

GAN’s artistry from the period of Katarinahissen III, his most sought after, is immensely appreciated both in Sweden and internationally. It inhibits a unique expression of cubism and futurism. The period, the size, the intense and light coloring and the motives of the composition - are all represented in Katarinahissen III. Mechanics, novelty, movement and the concealed homoerotic messages of the sailors makes the motif one of the best and most sought after by GAN. In the preface to the 1918 exhibition catalogue he wrote: ”My paintings motifs - non-motifs in impressionist or expressionist or whatsovers-ist meaning - is the sailor, his life, his world. I have strived to realize the essence of sailors: the motley billowing adventures, the straight, grey discipline, the dark blue will and the fiery passion.”

For further information, please contact:
Andreas Rydén, Deputy Managing Director, Head Specialist, Art andreas.ryden@bukowskis.com +46-72-858 71 39
Sara Bourke, Head of PR sara.bourke@bukowskis.com +46-73-940 08 26

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Gösta Adrian-Nilsson Sweden 1884-1965.
"Katarinahissen III".
Signed G.A-N. Executed 1916/17. Canvas 100 x 96 cm.