A rare 1920 painting by Dutch master Piet Mondrian, Composition III, is set to go under the hammer at Christie’s in London this October. The abstract work, unseen in public for more than 25 years, is expected to fetch between £20m and £30m during the auction house’s Frieze Week sale.
The video shows an art handler adjusting the canvas in a hidden gallery at Christie’s. Close-ups reveal the bold blocks of primary colour and straight black lines that define Mondrian’s signature neoplastic style.
The piece marks a pivotal moment as the artist moved from traditional landscapes to pure abstraction.
Works from this period rarely appear at auction. The last one sold in 2009, making this a rare chance to buy a key work. Christie’s hopes the painting will set a new record for the artist, though the current high stands at $51m.