Just intended to point out that it was conducted to make it an open auction last year and it just happened that a large bid was placed in advance that cut off the bidding. You asked if it could be different this year, so people could bid on the painting. The answer is that it depends on the proxy bids, I guess. But, there is nothing different to be done by the people running the auction.
I have no idea what was done with the number 1 print last year, or what they intend to do with it this year. Sorry.
Michael Siskin