James A.M. Whistler: Three Print Records Set

Our September 2011 auction of 19th & 20th Century Prints & Drawings set three auction records for prints by important artists. Furthering our position as the leading auction house for works on paper by James A.M. Whistler was a new auction record of $90,000 for Upright Venice, etching, circa 1879-80, which shattered the previous record of $16,250 for this image.

In October 2010, Swann established the record price for any Whistler print at auction with another etching of Venice, Nocturne, 1879-80, which brought $282,000. 

Also setting new records were Edward Hopper’s Portrait of Walter Tittle (The Illustrator), etching, 1918, which likely hadn’t appeared at auction in the last 25 years. Hopper and Tittle were neighbors at 3 Washington Square and supported each other in their early years. The print has a handwritten inscription to illustrator Arthur Hosking, and was passed down through his family. It sold for $48,000.

Pablo Picasso’s Portrait de Jacqueline au bandeau accoudée, color linoleum cut, 1962 also achieved a record price, selling for $72,000.