Czech artist's painting sells for nearly €9 million at Paris auction

A painting by Czech artist František Kupka has sold for €8.99 million (approximately CZK 217.5 million) at an auction in Paris, setting a new euro-denominated record for his work at an international auction.

The painting, Espace non-descriptif (Non-Descriptive Space), was sold at Sotheby's on Friday, October 23. The final price, including the buyer's premium, exceeded the auction house's upper estimate of €8 million, which did not include fees.

The work was the most expensive piece sold during the auction, which featured paintings and sculptures by some of the most influential artists of the 20th century, according to Czech News Agency reporting.

Created between 1914 and 1922, Espace non-descriptif represents an important period in Kupka's artistic development, when he began moving away from traditional representations of reality.

The composition features vibrant shades of purple and blue surrounding a central white space, creating an illusion of depth and movement.

According to Sotheby's, the painting reflects Kupka's interest in the relationship between color, form and perception.

Originally titled Raisons graphiques, the work underwent several transformations as Kupka experimented with simplifying shapes and expanding the empty space within the composition.

The painting was previously exhibited at Prague's Mánes gallery in 1946 before appearing in exhibitions abroad.

Born in eastern Bohemia in 1871, Kupka studied in Prague and Vienna before moving to Paris in 1896, where he spent much of his artistic career.

He became one of the pioneers of abstract painting, alongside artists such as Wassily Kandinsky and Kazimir Malevich.

Kupka's work was influenced by scientific discoveries, spiritual movements and his fascination with the emotional effects of color. He described himself as a "color symphonist," exploring how different shades and forms could communicate feelings without depicting recognizable objects.

The Paris sale surpassed Kupka's previous euro-denominated international auction record, set in 2021 when Le Jaillissement II (The Blowing II) sold in London for £7.55 million, equivalent to approximately €8.81 million at the time.

However, the London sale was worth more in Czech crowns at the exchange rate prevailing in 2021.

Kupka's domestic auction record remains held by Conception, which sold for CZK 126.5 million in Prague in April 2024.

The latest sale reinforces Kupka's international standing and the continuing demand for works from the early development of abstract art.