The Street Scene That Set Edward Burra's Auction Record

Edward Burra's Zoot Suits (1948) sold for $3.33m (£2.06m) at Sotheby's in London on June 15, 2011. The watercolor and ink wash work had been traded before once before.

Edward Burra (1905–1976) was a British painter known for vivid, often surreal depictions of urban life, Harlem at night and wartime scenes.

Although set in London, Burra's Zoot Suits recalls the artist's excitement on first visiting New York in 1933 when he was drawn to the energy of Harlem's nightlife. He chose to stay in the neighborhood, closely observing its residents' clothing, hairstyles and mannerisms. That trip resulted in his 1934 masterwork, Harlem, which is in the Tate's collection.

Wilfrid A. Evill, a British barrister and art collector, was the first owner of the record-breaking depiction of stylishly dressed young black immigrants in Soho, London. He bequeathed the watercolor to another notable collector of Modern art, Honor Frost, who was also a pioneering underwater archaeologist.

The sale beat the artist’s previous auction record by $2.33m, a 225% rise. His previous record was set by Striptease, Harlem (1934), which sold for $1m at Sotheby's on December 13, 2007.

A Brief History of Edward Burra at Auction