Artnet Auctions is hosting its '20th Century Art' sale, now live for bidding through March 19, 2025. The sale features a curated selection of portraits by leading 20th-century artists, including Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Michelangelo Pistoletto, and Alex Katz. Highlights include Saint Phalle's playful sculpture 'Tête de Femme' (1982), Picasso's abstract graphite drawing 'Homme au chapeau jouant de la guitare' (1914–1915), and Lichtenstein's Ben-Day dot print 'The Art Critic' (1996).
This sale matters because it showcases the evolution of portraiture in the 20th century, from traditional likeness to a vehicle for artistic experimentation and expression. By bringing together works from Pop, Modern, and Arte Povera movements, the auction offers collectors and enthusiasts a snapshot of how leading artists redefined the genre, blending abstraction, symbolism, and viewer interaction.