Auctioner Christies said that the California monochrome painting by French artist Yves Klein, painted decades ago, was recently sold for 18.4 million euros ($21.4 million) at the Avant-garde(s) including Thinking Italian auction held this week in Paris.
The work is 4m wide and nearly 2m high, the largest monochrome painting that artist Klein has ever painted with the characteristic green color created by him, named International Klein Blue ( International Klein Blue - IKB).
Previously, in 1960, he registered the copyright of the IKB color-changed formula.
He painted California in early 1961, right before his first and only trip to the United States to exhibit in Los Angeles, California. This is also one of the few works that artist Klein named after a place in the US.
This trip was not only to introduce the work, but also to visit Ms. Virginia Dwan - his close friend and long-time art patroner.
Recently, Christie's and the Yves Klein Foundation discovered another remarkable detail in the painting's journey: On the way from Paris to California, California stopped in New York, where it was displayed in an exhibition organized by artist Leo Castelli.
On the surface of the work, the artist also attached many small stones, creating a visual effect " reminiscent of the deep seabed under the blue lane of the ocean", according to Christie's description.
Just a year after debuting in California, painter Klein passed away in 1962, at the age of just 34, ending a short but brilliant career.
The California painting has belonged to a private collection in New York since 2005, after being purchased through Pace Gallery from Swiss collector George Marci.
The work was then loaned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art ( Met) for a long-term exhibition in the period of 2005-2008. This is also the last time the public has seen it.
Although Christie's did not disclose the identity of the signatory, the art world believes that the work comes from the collection of former United technologies Chairman George David, who has sponsored many major exhibitions at the Met, including shows about Van Van Gogh and Jasper Johns.
Mr. David did not respond to the request for comment, and the identity of the new owner of the California photo has not been announced.
