Christie’s to Auction Kandinsky Work on November 17
The 1922-23 painting Betonte Ecken is expected to set a new record for the artist at a New York auction.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fine Art
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Christie’s New York has scheduled the auction of Wassily Kandinsky’s 1922-23 painting Betonte Ecken for November 17, 2026. The auction house has issued a guarantee that the work, which measures just over four feet square, will sell at a record-setting level.
Why it matters
The sale is expected to easily surpass the artist’s current $44.8 million auction record. Industry experts view the high valuation as a significant moment for the market of top-tier modern art.
The painting carries an auction estimate of $60 million to $80 million. This figure far exceeds the current auction record for a Kandinsky work, which stands at $44.8 million.
The players
Christie's New York
Christie's is a world-leading art business that holds auctions and provides private sales services.
Wassily Kandinsky
Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist credited with painting one of the first purely abstract works.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is a prominent art museum located in New York City that focuses on modern and contemporary art.
The details
First auctioned in 1926 at the Jacob Hecht Auction House in Berlin, the work was later sold by the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in 1964. It has remained with its current anonymous owner since 1986.
Timeline
1926: Painting first auctioned at Jacob Hecht Auction House
1964: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum sold the painting
1986: Present owner acquired the painting
November 17, 2026: Auction scheduled at Christie's New York
Industry Dynamics
This high-profile auction follows the broader trend of major auction houses leveraging guarantees to secure rare masterpieces. By positioning the work as a record-breaker, Christie’s reinforces the enduring market demand for blue-chip modern art.
While the auction is restricted to high-net-worth bidders, the event sets a public benchmark that influences the valuation of similar modern works. Enthusiasts can track the outcome to see how it shifts the accessibility and perceived value of museum-quality art.
The takeaway
The auction illustrates how historical provenance and rarity continue to drive valuations in the high-end art market. Prospective collectors should monitor these major sales as they define the upper limits of what investors are willing to pay for canonical works.
Further reading
For more on the current market for masterworks, visit the Fine Art section.
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