On June 24, 2025, Sotheby’s auction house in New York will put up for sale one of the most important female nudes of the 20th century – “La Belle Rafaëla” by Tamara Lempicka. This is the first appearance of this iconic work on the market in four decades. The painting, which already sparked controversy and admiration in the 1920s, is today considered one of the most provocative and sophisticated works in the artist’s oeuvre. Tamara Lempicka’s painting at auction is attracting the interest of collectors and investors. The work of the Polish painter is a world-class masterpiece.
Tamara Lempicka – queen of modernism and art déco style
Tamara Lempicka (1898-1980), a Polish-French painter of international renown, is a figure who defined the art déco aesthetics in painting. She studied in France under the tutelage of André Lhote and Maurice Denis. She freely combined classical painting techniques with modern geometry and sensual expression. Her work are characterized by monumental female figures, pearly complexions and theatrical chiaroscuro. Often inspired by Caravaggio and Renaissance painting.
Lempicka was not only a painter, but also an icon of independence and emancipation. Both as a woman and as an artist. Her works are a manifesto of modern femininity: bold, aware of her power and carnality. That’s why every Tamara Lempicka painting at auction generates so much interest. However, when “La Belle Rafaela” is available for purchase – emotions escalate.
Tamara Lempicka at auction at Sotheby’s “La Belle Rafaëla” – a portrait of sensuality and liberation
Painted in 1927, the painting “La Belle Rafaëla” depicts a nude woman with short hair lying against a background of dark fabric, illuminated by dramatic light. The model was Rafaëla. A young woman whom Lempicka met by chance on the street and whom she immediately invited to work with her. Their relationship became the inspiration for several paintings from this period. However, it wasLa Belle Rafaëla is regarded as the most uncompromising and intimate portrait of this acquaintance.
According to researchers, the work symbolizes Lempicka’s radical approach to female carnality and eroticism. Authorial. Stripped of prudishness, full of strength and poetic delicacy at the same time. The artist emphasized the curves and softness of the model’s body, contrasting it with the sharp, architectural composition. The light and red fabric heighten the drama of the scene, bringing to mind a Baroque theater of passion. This is a unique work of art. That’s why Tamara Lempicka’s painting at auction in the Sotheby’s is such an important event.
Meaning and influence – Lempicka’s legacy in contemporary art
This painting not only marks the pinnacle of Lempicka’s artistic achievements. It also fits into the tradition of the female view of the body. A tradition that developed fully only at the end of the 20th century. Curators and art historians point out that Lempicka was a forerunner of the currents taken up today by Joan Semmel, Jenny Saville and Lisa Brice, among others. Therefore, these artists redefining narratives around the female body, sexuality and identity.
Sotheby’s auction – possible price record
This is the first appearance ofLa Belle Rafaëla on the market since 1985. At that time, the painting was also sold by Sotheby’s in New York. Over the following decades, the work was shown at key exhibitions. That’s why it appeared, among others, at the Paris Autumn Salon. Meanwhile, viewers recently saw it in a major retrospective at the de Young Museum in San Francisco (2024) and the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.
It is estimated that the painting could fetch a price exceeding $20 million. Thus, it could be the most expensive work by Lempicka ever sold. This is a clear indication of the growing interest in the artist’s work and the renaissance of her position on the global art market.
A painting by Tamara Lempicka at auction at Sotheby’s. An event of exceptional importance
Tamara Lempicka’s painting at auction is not only a spectacular moment for collectors. It also sends an important signal in the art world: art déco and modernism in a female edition do not lose their relevance. On the contrary. In an era of rediscovering the female voice in the history of art, Lempicka’s work takes on new meaning and strength.
On June 24, the art world will pause for a moment to look at not only the auction but also to the immortal legacy of an artist who dared to paint the way she lived. With passion, freedom and the conviction that art can liberate.
