Helene Schjerfbeck
Einar Reuter (Study In Brown).
Found at
Bukowski,
Helsinki
International Spring Sale, Helsinki F159, Lot 280
25. May - 26. May 2011
International Spring Sale, Helsinki F159, Lot 280
25. May - 26. May 2011
Estimate: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Price realised: XX.XXX
Description
Sign. Oil on canvas, 44,4x36,2 cm.
When art dealer Gösta Stenman sold his own art collection in 1914, forester Einar Reuter from Tornio bought his first paintings by Helene Schjerfbeck; The woodcutter (1910-11) and Siblings (1913). Reuter became interested in the artist and started buying more of her work. Sometime later he had become the owner of a considerable collection, but for Reuter it wasn’t enough just to collect Schjerfbeck’s work; he also started writing about her. Under the name H. Ahtela he published several articles about Helene Schjerfbeck and her art. Reuter’s first monograph was published at his own expense in connection with a big Helene Schjerfbeck exhibition organized by Gösta Stenman in 1917. Reuter-Ahtela’s most important life work was, however, the extensive biography Helene Schjerfbeck, published in Finnish in 1951 and in Swedish in 1953. Einar Reuter visited Helene Schjerfbeck for the first time in 1915, when Schjerfbeck was living with her mother in Hyvinkää, where the two ladies had moved in 1912. At the time of his visit, Reuter had already purchased two more works by Schjerfbeck; Girl with a blue bow (1909) and The Medicis’ daughter (1907). Usually Helene Schjerfbeck disapproved of this type of visit, but this time she found herself in the company of someone who understood her. To her friend, the artist Ada Thilén she wrote that the forester seemed to be a charming and uncomplicated man, familiar with modern art. Helene Schjerfbeck felt that she had met someone with whom she could freely discuss art, a soul mate who was on the same wavelength. The difference in age between them; Schjerfbeck was 52 years old when they first met, and Einar Reuter only 33, didn’t prevent them from developing a close friendship. After their first meeting, Reuter’s visits became the most important event in Schjerfbeck’s life, a welcome distraction from the monotony of a small town like Hyvinkää. They had started a correspondence that was to last until the artist’s death
.
Einar Reuter's private collection, after that in the family.
When art dealer Gösta Stenman sold his own art collection in 1914, forester Einar Reuter from Tornio bought his first paintings by Helene Schjerfbeck; The woodcutter (1910-11) and Siblings (1913). Reuter became interested in the artist and started buying more of her work. Sometime later he had become the owner of a considerable collection, but for Reuter it wasn’t enough just to collect Schjerfbeck’s work; he also started writing about her. Under the name H. Ahtela he published several articles about Helene Schjerfbeck and her art. Reuter’s first monograph was published at his own expense in connection with a big Helene Schjerfbeck exhibition organized by Gösta Stenman in 1917. Reuter-Ahtela’s most important life work was, however, the extensive biography Helene Schjerfbeck, published in Finnish in 1951 and in Swedish in 1953. Einar Reuter visited Helene Schjerfbeck for the first time in 1915, when Schjerfbeck was living with her mother in Hyvinkää, where the two ladies had moved in 1912. At the time of his visit, Reuter had already purchased two more works by Schjerfbeck; Girl with a blue bow (1909) and The Medicis’ daughter (1907). Usually Helene Schjerfbeck disapproved of this type of visit, but this time she found herself in the company of someone who understood her. To her friend, the artist Ada Thilén she wrote that the forester seemed to be a charming and uncomplicated man, familiar with modern art. Helene Schjerfbeck felt that she had met someone with whom she could freely discuss art, a soul mate who was on the same wavelength. The difference in age between them; Schjerfbeck was 52 years old when they first met, and Einar Reuter only 33, didn’t prevent them from developing a close friendship. After their first meeting, Reuter’s visits became the most important event in Schjerfbeck’s life, a welcome distraction from the monotony of a small town like Hyvinkää. They had started a correspondence that was to last until the artist’s death
.
Einar Reuter's private collection, after that in the family.
Auction result misses estimated price range
In May 2011 a collector was able to acquire the work Einar Reuter (Study In Brown). by Helene Schjerfbeck for EUR 95,000.00. This price was achieved in the auction International Spring Sale, Helsinki F159 at Bukowski in Helsinki and was even below the estimate range of EUR 100,000.00 – 125,000.00 set by the auction house. Of course, this price has nothing to do with the top prices that other works by Helene Schjerfbeck achieve. The highest price we have observed so far was reached by the work Tanssiaiskengät; Balskorna (Dancing Shoes) in May 2008 with an auction result of GBP 3,044,500.00 (€ 3,872,737.05).
Auktionsergebnis verfehlt die Schätzpreisspanne
Im Mai 2011 konnte ein Sammler die Arbeit Einar Reuter (Study In Brown). von Helene Schjerfbeck für EUR 95.000,00 erwerben. Dieser Preis wurde in der Auktion International Spring Sale, Helsinki F159 bei Bukowski in Helsinki erzielt und lag noch unterhalb der von dem Auktionshaus angesetzten Schätzpreisspanne von EUR 100.000,00 – 125.000,00. Dieser Preis hat freilich nichts mit den Spitzenpreisen zu tun, die andere Arbeiten von Helene Schjerfbeck erzielen. Den höchsten von uns bisher beobachteten Preis erreichte die Arbeit Tanssiaiskengät; Balskorna (Dancing Shoes) im Mai 2008 mit einem Auktionsergebnis von GBP 3.044.500,00 (€ 3.872.737,05).
Helene Schjerfbeck - Auction history
Other artists in this auction
