Large Typewriters (2003), a large-scale drawing by William Kentridge sold for £682,750 ($935,000) at an auction in London, setting a new record for a drawing by the South African artist. The drawing is made using charcoal and pastel, which depicts two vintage typewriters. 5 bidders competed for the work during a contemporary art sale at Bonhams in London. The drawing was estimated to fetch £350,000–£550,000 ($480,000–$755,000). It went to a buyer in Asia.
The drawing features one of the recurring motifs in Kentridge’s oeuvre, which comprises mainly black and white drawings. Ralph Taylor, Bonhams global head of postwar and contemporary art, said in a statement that the drawing is “a perfect example of Kentridge’s practice.”
The drawings has appeared at the auction for the first time. . Before the seller acquired it, it was in the art collection of the Melbourne-based oil and gas company BHP Billiton.
Kentridge’s bold artistic vision has seen him become one of the world’s most sought-after artists by museums and collectors alike. His work can be found in the collections of some of the most prestigious museums in the world, including the MoMA, New York, Tate Modern, London, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago among many others.