Black
Dress
Alex Katz's Black Dress print series is a captivating collection of portraits featuring nine women, each embodying distinct expressions and attitudes, unified by the simple elegance of a black dress. Made in 2015, the series showcases Katz's ability to convey profound individuality and style within the constraints of a singular motif.
Alex Katz Black Dress For sale
Black Dress Value (5 Years)
With £51852 in the past 12 months, Alex Katz's Black Dress series is one of the most actively traded in the market. Prices have varied significantly – from £6748 to £29863 – driven by fluctuations in factors like condition, provenance, and market timing. Over the past 12 months, the average selling price was £12963, with an average annual growth rate of 10.31% across the series.
Black Dress Market value
Auction Results
| Artwork | Auction Date | Auction House | Return to Seller | Hammer Price | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Black Dress (Yvonne) Alex Katz Signed Print | 27 Jun 2024 | Phillips New York | £12,325 | £14,500 | £20,000 |
 Black Dress (Ulla) Alex Katz Signed Print | 25 Apr 2024 | Heffel Online | £8,500 | £10,000 | £13,000 |
 Black Dress (Oona) Alex Katz Signed Print | 21 Sept 2023 | Phillips London | £11,900 | £14,000 | £19,000 |
 Black Dress (Carmen) Alex Katz Signed Print | 7 Jun 2023 | Phillips London | £8,500 | £10,000 | £14,000 |
 Black Dress (Christy) Alex Katz Signed Print | 18 Jan 2023 | Phillips London | £9,350 | £11,000 | £15,000 |
 Black Dress (Yi) Alex Katz Signed Print | 1 Dec 2022 | Dorotheum, Vienna | £23,800 | £28,000 | £40,000 |
 Black Dress (Ruth) Alex Katz Signed Print | 3 Jun 2022 | Grisebach | £12,750 | £15,000 | £20,000 |
 Black Dress (Sharon) Alex Katz Signed Print | 1 Apr 2021 | Christie's London | £9,775 | £11,500 | £15,000 |
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Meaning & Analysis
Alex Katz’s Black Dress series delves into the realm of contemporary portraiture with a collection of works that merge simplicity with depth, and uniformity with individuality. Each portrait in the series presents a woman clad in a black dress, a choice that at once unifies the subjects and amplifies their unique personalities and moods. Katz's characteristic flat planes of colour and restrained line work strip away the superfluous, focusing on the essence of each figure and the subtle nuances of expression and posture that convey their individual identities.
The black dress serves as both a literal and symbolic garment, acting as a canvas upon which the personalities of the women are projected. It is a garment synonymous with sophistication and versatility, qualities that are mirrored in Katz’s approach to painting. Through this series, Katz explores the interplay between fashion and identity, and how clothing can serve as an extension of the self.
The prints in the series are not just portraits of women in similar attire but are studies in character, mood, and the power of minimalistic representation. Katz’s use of a common theme to highlight differences rather than similarities speaks to the artist’s interest in the subtleties of human expression and the capacity of art to capture fleeting moments of beauty and individuality.
The series is a testament to Katz’s mastery of form and colour, demonstrating his ability to create depth and complexity within a seemingly simple framework. The repetition of the black dress motif across the series invites viewers to focus on the variations in gesture, facial expression, and the ambient mood conveyed by each portrait, offering a rich exploration of contemporary femininity and the nuanced dynamics of visual representation.
