The document discusses the sale of Willem de Kooning's painting "Woman III" from 1952-53 for $137.5 million to hedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen. It was the last painting from de Kooning's "Women" series still in private hands. The sale was brokered by Larry Gagosian and adds to Cohen's vast art collection worth over $600 million, which includes works by Warhol, Picasso, and Pollock. "Woman III" has an interesting history, having been in a Tehran museum until a 1994 exchange for a Persian manuscript. The painting depicts de Kooning's recurring theme of ambiguous female figures through aggressive brushwork.

1. Posición: 2
• WOMAN III (1952-53)
• Willem De Kooning
• Fecha de venta:
6 de noviembre del 2006
• $ 137,500,000.00 dls.
• Vendido por David Geffen a Steven A. Cohen.

2. • Steven A. Cohen
• Net Worth: $6.8 billions of dollars
• Has spent an estimated $600 million on works by
Warhol, Picasso, Pollock for large art collection.
• Forbes 2006

3. Willem de Kooning
(1904 – 1997)
• Fue un artista nacido en Rotterdam, que estudió en
Europa y que llegó a Estados Unidos en 1926.
• Ya era bien conocido en tiempos posteriores a la
Segunda Guerra Mundial , perteneciendo a los
movimientos de Expresionismo Abstracto, Pintura
de Acción y a la llamada Escuela de Nueva York.

4. • De Kooning había pintado mujeres
regularmente en los 40’s.
• Las figuras biomórficas de sus abstracciones
tempranas fueron derivadas de objetos
encontrados en su estudio.
• Pero no fue hasta 1950 que empezó a explorar
exclusivamente el sujeto de mujeres.
• En el verano de ese año inició la primer pintura
de la serie que acabaría en 1953, al terminar la
sexta obra de esta etapa.

5. • Woman III es parte
de una serie de seis
pinturas hechas por
de Kooning entre
1951 y 1953.
• Óleo sobre tela 1.7
m x 1.2 m.
• Gagosian Gallery

6. • Woman III formaba parte de la colección del prestigiado
Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art desde su
inauguración en 1977 hasta la revolución iraní en 1979.
• A partir de ese año, se mantuvo, al igual que la magnífica
colección de arte contemporáneo occidental, en el sótano
del museo, por cuestiones de seguridad tanto como de
censura.
• "Woman III," es la única pieza faltante de dicha colección.
• En 1994, fue intercambiada de manera discreta por los
restos de un exquisito manuscrito persa del siglo 16.

7. the new york times
Landmark De Kooning Crowns CollectionLandmark De Kooning Crowns Collection
by CAROL VOGELby CAROL VOGEL
Published: November 18, 2006Published: November 18, 2006
• As records were being broken atAs records were being broken at
contemporary art auctions this week, thecontemporary art auctions this week, the
hedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohenhedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen
privately scooped up a de Kooning “Woman”privately scooped up a de Kooning “Woman”
painting for roughly $137.5 million, adding topainting for roughly $137.5 million, adding to
the prestige of a personal collection that isthe prestige of a personal collection that is
fast becoming one of the world’s greatest.fast becoming one of the world’s greatest.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/arts/design/18pain.html?
ex=1321506000&en=9406bad47cfaf903&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

8. the new york times
• Mr. Cohen bought the 1952-53 oil onMr. Cohen bought the 1952-53 oil on
canvas, “Woman III,” directly from thecanvas, “Woman III,” directly from the
entertainment magnate and megacollectorentertainment magnate and megacollector
DavidDavid GeffenGeffen, who in the last two months, who in the last two months
has emerged as equally prolific in selling hishas emerged as equally prolific in selling his
contemporary masterpieces.contemporary masterpieces.
• It is the last painting in de Kooning’sIt is the last painting in de Kooning’s
“Women” series still in private hands.“Women” series still in private hands.
– ““This is arguably the most important postwarThis is arguably the most important postwar
painting that is not in a museum,” Sandy Heller,painting that is not in a museum,” Sandy Heller,
an art adviser to Mr. Cohen, said yesterday. “Wean art adviser to Mr. Cohen, said yesterday. “We
were in the right place at the right time. It’s ourwere in the right place at the right time. It’s our
good fortune.”good fortune.”

9. the new york times
• Mr. Cohen, 50, has amassed a vastMr. Cohen, 50, has amassed a vast
collection over the last six years thatcollection over the last six years that
ranges from a Manet self-portrait to oneranges from a Manet self-portrait to one
of Jackson Pollock’s classic dripof Jackson Pollock’s classic drip
paintings to Damien Hirst’s infamouspaintings to Damien Hirst’s infamous
shark submerged in a tank ofshark submerged in a tank of
formaldehyde.formaldehyde.

10. “La imposibilidad física de la muerte en la
mente de alguien vivo”
• La respuesta de Hirst a aquellos que dicen que
cualquiera pudo haber hecho esta pieza:
• “Pero no lo hicieron, verdad? ".

11. the new york times
• Only last month he purchased a different de Kooning fromOnly last month he purchased a different de Kooning from
Mr. Geffen, a 1955 landscape titled “Police Gazette,” forMr. Geffen, a 1955 landscape titled “Police Gazette,” for
$63.5 million.$63.5 million.
• Mr. Geffen, who has been collecting art for decades, isMr. Geffen, who has been collecting art for decades, is
known to have raised about $421 million in four private artknown to have raised about $421 million in four private art
sales since the beginning of October.sales since the beginning of October.
• The rapid-fire deals have fueled speculation that he isThe rapid-fire deals have fueled speculation that he is
considering a bid for The Los Angeles Times.considering a bid for The Los Angeles Times.
• Reached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Geffen declined toReached by telephone yesterday, Mr. Geffen declined to
make any comment.make any comment.

12. the new york times
• In October he soldIn October he sold JasperJasper JohnsJohns’s “False Start”’s “False Start”
(1959) to Kenneth C. Griffin, managing director(1959) to Kenneth C. Griffin, managing director
and chief executive of the Chicago-basedand chief executive of the Chicago-based
Citadel Investment Group, for $80 million.Citadel Investment Group, for $80 million.
• More recently he sold Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5,More recently he sold Jackson Pollock’s “No. 5,
1948” for $140 million to the financier David1948” for $140 million to the financier David
Martinez, experts familiar with the transactionMartinez, experts familiar with the transaction
have reported.have reported.
– (Last week Mr. Martinez denied through his law firm,(Last week Mr. Martinez denied through his law firm,
Shearman & Sterling, that he had bought theShearman & Sterling, that he had bought the
painting, but art world experts have repeatedlypainting, but art world experts have repeatedly
reaffirmed that he was the buyer.)reaffirmed that he was the buyer.)

13. the new york times
• Mr. Heller said the price tag for “Woman III” was $137.5 millionMr. Heller said the price tag for “Woman III” was $137.5 million
and that the sale was brokered by the Manhattan dealer Larryand that the sale was brokered by the Manhattan dealer Larry
Gagosian.Gagosian.
• It is unclear whether that price included Mr. Gagosian’sIt is unclear whether that price included Mr. Gagosian’s
commission.commission.
• If a commission were still to be added to that figure, “Woman III”If a commission were still to be added to that figure, “Woman III”
could possibly have fetched the highest price on record for acould possibly have fetched the highest price on record for a
painting.painting.
• The current known record was set this month when Mr. GeffenThe current known record was set this month when Mr. Geffen
sold the Pollock for $140 million.sold the Pollock for $140 million.

14. the new york times
• The female figure was a theme to which de Kooning returnedThe female figure was a theme to which de Kooning returned
repeatedly. He began painting women regularly in the earlyrepeatedly. He began painting women regularly in the early
1940s and did so again later in that decade and more seriously1940s and did so again later in that decade and more seriously
in the 1950s. Often they are depicted in an almost graffitilikein the 1950s. Often they are depicted in an almost graffitilike
style, with gigantic, vacuous eyes, massive breasts, toothystyle, with gigantic, vacuous eyes, massive breasts, toothy
smiles and clawlike hands set against colorful layers of paint.smiles and clawlike hands set against colorful layers of paint.
• ““Woman III,” measuring 68 by 48½ inches, is one of sixWoman III,” measuring 68 by 48½ inches, is one of six
“Woman” paintings he numbered. The other five are all in world-“Woman” paintings he numbered. The other five are all in world-
class museums, all but one in the United States.class museums, all but one in the United States.

15. the new york times
• ““Woman III” comes with a rich history.Woman III” comes with a rich history.
– Mr. Geffen acquired it in 1994 from a TehranMr. Geffen acquired it in 1994 from a Tehran
museum in a quiet trade with the help of Dorismuseum in a quiet trade with the help of Doris
Ammann, a Zurich dealer, on the tarmac of theAmmann, a Zurich dealer, on the tarmac of the
Vienna airport.Vienna airport.
• In return, Iran obtained the remnants of aIn return, Iran obtained the remnants of a
precious 16th-century painted manuscriptprecious 16th-century painted manuscript
detailing the ascension of Shah Tahmasp ofdetailing the ascension of Shah Tahmasp of
Persia to the throne.Persia to the throne.

16. the new york times
• In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a precious 16th-In return, Iran obtained the remnants of a precious 16th-
century painted manuscript detailing the ascension ofcentury painted manuscript detailing the ascension of
Shah Tahmasp of Persia to the throne.Shah Tahmasp of Persia to the throne.
• Because Mr. Cohen is known as a supporter of both theBecause Mr. Cohen is known as a supporter of both the
Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum,Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum,
his purchase is likely to stir speculation about whetherhis purchase is likely to stir speculation about whether
“Woman III” will one day go to a museum.“Woman III” will one day go to a museum.
• ““Steve is a young man; he just recently celebrated hisSteve is a young man; he just recently celebrated his
50 birthday,” Mr. Heller said. “So it’s bit early to say. He50 birthday,” Mr. Heller said. “So it’s bit early to say. He
has not made any ultimate decision on the fate of hishas not made any ultimate decision on the fate of his
collection.”collection.”

19. I II
III
IV V VI

20. • Woman, I (1950-52). Museum of Modern Art, New York.
U.S.A.
• Woman, II (1952). Museum of Modern Art, New York.
U.S.A.
• Woman III (1952-53). Private Collection.
• Woman IV (1952-53). The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art,
Kansas City, Missouri. U.S.A.
• Woman V (1952-53). National Gallery, Canberra,
Australia.
• Woman VI (1953). Carnegie Museum of Art
Pittsburgh, PA. U.S.A.

22. http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=79810
• Bien se puede generalizar el comentario que hacen los
expertos del MOMA sobre la primera obra de la serie:
• El sujeto, armatoste con ojos salvajes, está dibujado a partir
de una amalgama de arquetipos femeninos, desde las diosas
paleolíticas de la fertilidad hasta las chicas de calendario
contemporáneas.
• Su mirada amenazante y su feroz sonrisa están realzadas por
las agresivas pinceladas de De Kooning y su frenética
aplicación de pintura.
• Combinando voluptuosidad y amenaza, refleja la antiquísima
ambivalencia cultural entre reverenciar o temer al poder de lo
femenino

23. seated Mother
Goddess flanked by
two lionesses from
Çatalhöyük
(c. 6000-5500 BC),
tMuseum of Anatolian
Civilizations
Ankara , Turkey
Sumerian
3000 B.C.
The dreamer. National
Archaeological Museum, Valetta,
Malta. 3000 B.C.
Venus of Willendorf
Austria
ca. 28,000 BCE
Naturhistorisches
Museum, Vienna