Nov 16, 2021 - Sale 2588

Sale 2588 - Lot 189

Price Realized: $ 12,500
?Final Price Realized includes Buyer’s Premium added to Hammer Price
Estimate: $ 15,000 - $ 20,000
ROBERT INDIANA
Numbers.

Complete set of 4 color screenprints on wood panels in wood box with screenprint cover, 1966. Each panel: 223x225x20 mm; 9x9x1 inches; box: 275x275x90 mm; 11x11x3 1/2 inches (overall). Artist's proof, aside from the intended edition of 50 (the edition was abandoned due to production and material difficulties; likely fewer than 10 sets were produced). Signed, dated and inscribed "Artist's Proof #1" in felt-tip pen and black ink, underside of the box cover. Each wood panel signed, dedicated and dated "2017" in felt-tip pen and black ink on the underside. Printed by Stephen Poleskie, Chiron Press, New York.

The scale and color combinations of the numbers in this box set correspond to those in Indiana's (1928-2018) iconic Exploding Numbers, set of 4 oils on canvas, 1964-66, now in a private collection. This box was likely based on these panels and was created during the time Indiana was working with Poleskie at Chiron Press, New York, on the Paris Review Poster, color screenprint, 1965, and Purim: The Four Facets of Esther I and II, color screenprints, 1967.

We have found only two other Numbers at auction in the past 30 years.