Fait d’Hiver
Fait d'Hiver depicts a woman lying on her back in the snow. The upper torso and head of the woman are featured in the sculpture, her breasts exposed beneath a sparsely-knitted dress. A pig and two penguins stand near to her head, adding the kitsch element that is thematic throughout the collection. The catalogue colourfully described the work as a "Walt Disney version of an erotic fantasy ... juxtaposing a strong sexual element with the saccharine sweetness of decorative knicknacks". It went on to say that the "disturbing combination identifies a primal hunger at the heart of American consumerism".[10">
Koons based the design of the woman on a photograph of porn actress Ilona Staller that featured in Stern.[10"> He had not met Staller at the time but went on to have a very public relationship with her, using her as a muse for many subsequent works.[3">
In November 2001 an edition of the sculpture was auctioned by Phillips de Pury & Company with an estimate of up to US$2.5 million but it failed to sell.[10"> Several years later, on November 13, 2007, Christie's auctioned the artist's proof with a final sale price of US$4.3 million.[11">[12"> In 2018 a French court found that Koons' sculpture had plagiarised a 1985 advertisement for Naf Naf [fr">, a women's clothing retailer. Damages and costs were awarded against Koons but the sculpture was not seized.[13">[14">
