Wassily Kandinsky's Betonte Ecken (1922-23) is set to lead Christie's 20th-century art evening sale in New York on November 17. The painting carries an estimate of $60 million to $80 million and is guaranteed to sell at a level that would surpass the artist's current auction record.
That record is $44.8 million, paid for Murnau mit Kirche II at Sotheby's in 2023. Measuring just over four feet square, Betonte Ecken--translated as "Accentuated Corners"--was created in Weimar while Kandinsky was teaching at the Bauhaus.
The painting's history includes a notable period in the Guggenheim collection. After its early sale in Berlin, it was acquired by Hilla Rebay, an adviser to museum founder Solomon R. Guggenheim. The museum later purchased the work and held it until 1964, when it was sold at auction in London. The current owner acquired it at Sotheby's New York in 1986.
Kandinsky's work helped shape the development of abstraction, bringing together color, form and rhythm. As major works continue to reach new audiences through the art market, their stories can also deepen understanding of the movements that continue to influence contemporary creativity.
