Sotheby’s is now showing a group of works on loan from the private collection of collectors Steven and Alexandra Cohen.  The single room, 20 piece exhibition encompasses some of the most masterful and intriguing images of women in art, from Edvard Munch’s Madonna to Picasso’s Le Repos (and two others) to Vincent Van Gogh’s 1890 Portrait of a Young Peasant Girl and a 1916 Modigliani nude to Andy Warhol’s Turquoise Marilyn.  To say these images are icons would be an understatement.  Also included in this exhibition are images of women from contemporary artists Marlene Dumas and Richard Prince.

Though rare for an auction house to exhibit works which are not for sale, the boundaries are blurring as art collectors themselves become investors in art businesses such as the Cohen involvement with Sotheby’s.

Regardless of the interests at stake here, this show presents a wonderful opportunity for the public to see these important pictures and sculptures.  The work is on view at Sotheby’s, 1334 York Avenue (at 72nd Street) through April 14th.