Press release -
Heartbreak and Hue: Constant’s ‘La femme terrible’ at Auction
When Bruun Rasmussen holds its modern art auction on 19 November, a rare and deeply personal work by the Dutch CoBrA artist Constant (1920–2005) will be featured: “La femme terrible” from 1949, estimated at 160.698-200.873 €. It is a key work from the earliest years of the CoBrA movement.
The painting was created during a dramatic period for both the artist and the newly founded CoBrA movement. In 1948, Constant’s close friend and colleague Asger Jorn began a relationship with Constant’s wife, Matie van Domselaer. That same year, the two artists had stood shoulder to shoulder as co-founders of CoBrA, a movement celebrating spontaneity, freedom, experimentation, and the creative process as a shared artistic language. However, the rupture between the two men also affected the group’s internal dynamics and became a turning point in CoBrA’s history, with Constant regarded as its intellectual force.
Heartbreak into art
Matie left Constant to live with Jorn in Denmark, taking the couple’s daughters with her. Constant was left alone with their son and channelled his emotional breakdown into a series of intensely personal works. One of these is “La femme terrible”, in which the bold colors and expressive style reflect grief, anger, and artistic renewal. The painting stands as one of the earliest testaments to the force that defined CoBrA, and to Constant’s ability to merge personal experience with visionary artistic thinking.
“La femme terrible” is one of those works where life and art converge, as Constant transforms his personal experiences into a deeply expressive and artistic statement. “It provides a rare insight into the human side of the CoBrA movement, behind the collective manifesto and ideals,” says Niels Boe-Hauggaard, Head of Modern and Contemporary Art at Bruun Rasmussen.
The live auction will take place on 19 November at Bruun Rasmussen. All works can be viewed during the preview at Lyngby, Nørgaardsvej 3.
Related links
Topics
Categories
Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at our auction house in Lyngby.
Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.
At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe's most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.
In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.
