Andreas Gursky’s epic Paris Montparnasse to lead Sotheby’s October sale

Andreas Gursky’s epic urban panorama, Paris Montparnasse, one of the artist’s most spectacular and seminal works, estimated at £1-1.5 million, will lead Sotheby’s London October Contemporary Evening Sale on 17th October 2013. Executed in 1993, and marking a critical turning point in Gursky’s career, the work presents one of the very first digitally manipulated images which would go on to define his practice. The image also delivers one of the most conceptually powerful treatments of our modern world and the alienating anonymity of urban society.

Other highlights include: Glenn Brown’s monumental sci-fi fantasy, Ornamental Despair (Painting for Ian Curtis) after Chris Foss, estimated at £2-3 million; Gerhard Richter’s vibrant Abstraktes Bild from the pivotal year of 1994 (£1.5-2m) and Jean Dubuffet’s Jacasse, (£800,000-1.2m) from his Paris Circus series.

This October’s sale also has a notable offering of works by contemporary Chinese artists including paintings from landmark series by Zhang Xiaogang and Zeng Fanzhi - who this week set a new record for a Contemporary Asian artist at auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

The sale will comprise 49 lots with a total estimated value in excess of £22.8 million. It will be preceded by the 20th Century Italian Art sale, which is expected to realise more than £13.3 million.

Alex Branczik, head of Sotheby’s London Contemporary Art Department said: "The works in this autumn’s sale provide collectors with a powerful commentary on our times - from Andreas Gursky’s God’s-eye view of modern life and Glenn Brown’s sensational exploration of pop culture-meets-sci-fi, to the politically-loaded works of Chinese artists Zhang Xiaogang and Zeng Fanzhi. Alongside classic names such as Gerhard Richter and Jean Dubuffet, we’re delighted that the auction also includes a strong showing of younger artists such as Alex Hubbard, Hurvin Anderson, Wade Guyton and Oscar Murillo, who are making a growing impact on the Contemporary market."