Constantin Brâncuși’s Danaïde sold for $107.6 million at Christie’s New York earlier this year, in May. An exquisite gilded bronze sculpture, created in 1913 and inspired by the artist’s muse Margit Pogany, the sale exceeded the auction house’s estimate of $100m — approximately 50 per cent above the sculptor’s previous auction record and the second-highest price ever paid for a sculpture at auction. It is also one of only two works in the collection of S.I.Newhouse to reach nine-figure prices, alongside Number 7A, 1948 by Jackson Pollock. What, exactly, is the buyer paying for?
Brâncuși met Margit Pogany in Paris in 1910 and was struck by her charming features, her small face, wide almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. Her elegance comes to life through an interplay of curves, the contrast between her tilted head and the curve of her nose. After working briefly in the studio of French sculptor Auguste Rodin in 1907, Brancusi embarked on a journey to search for an alternative style, since “nothing grows under big trees.” The archaic art of Africa and East Asia also influenced the Romanian artists, which can be seen in the shape and colour of Danaïde.
The sculpture radiates tranquility through its slight downward gaze, the contrast between her gilded face and use of black patina for the hair, which is reminiscent of East Asian buddha figures. Its elongated features and simple forms can also be observed in works of Amedeo Modigliani, illustrating the importance of geometry as a foundation, as said by poet Guillame Apollinaire: “geometry is to the visual arts what grammar is to writers.”
At its core, the value of Danaïde lies in Brâncuși’s exceptional artistry, its rarity and interplay of cultural influences. As Brâncuși once said, “Look at my sculptures until you manage to see them.”
Perhaps, in the art market, it really is all about the gaze.
You can view images of Danaïde here.
Photo by Sasun Bughdaryan on Unsplash
