Upon opening, crowds immediately gathered in the exhibition to witness the strikingly-real works, and traffic began to build up outside. Across from Weill’s gallery was a police station, and the commotion did not go unnoticed. An officer traipsed across the road and asked for the removal of the offending canvases, which he considered indecent. Weill’s refusal to do so found her in the police station speaking with the police chief. The show was closed with Zborowski only selling two drawings at 30 Francs each.

Over 100 years after its creation, the power of Nu couché to amaze and startle remains as potent as it did in 1917.

Sotheby’s Presents: Fearless Now
Throughout our marquee May auctions of Impressionist & Modern and Contemporary Art in New York, Sotheby’s will celebrate brave artistic voices across time – from the pioneering Impressionists working outside of the Paris Salon in the 19th century, to groundbreaking artists, collectors and patrons who are making their own rules today. Follow us throughout the spring for video, articles and news from our original series Fearless Now.

9860 Modigliani, Nu couche - Catalogue Note