Sotheby’s bailed out over $ 300 million for impressionists and contemporary art

NEW YORK. Sotheby’s set a new record for Picasso’s blue-period paintings by selling a two-sided erotic portrait for more than $ 67.5 million. In general, the auction of impressionists and contemporary art, which took place on Thursday, brought more than 300 million US dollars.

In just over three quarters of the 47 works proposed to buyers, $ 306.7 million was generated, including commissions, with a minimum valuation of $ 275 million. Total sales amounted to $ 377 million.

The painting “La Gommeuse” of the blue period of Picasso was initially estimated at 60 million US dollars. The assessment did not include 12% of the commission. Previously, the work was in the collection of Alfred Taubman, an American millionaire convicted of fraud in 2002.

The auction administration seemed to breathe a sigh of relief. This year, the auction of impressionists and contemporary art brought 1.67 billion US dollars, and this is the highest figure for the 271-year history of the house.

Other major lots include the atmospheric Van Gogh Paysage sous un ciel mouvementé, which was sold for $ 54 million with an estimate of $ 50-70 million, and Kazimir Malevich’s work Mystic Suprematism, which the heirs of the artist sold and the price of which stopped at 33.9 million US dollars (with an estimate of 35-45 million US dollars).

At least two of the Top 10 lots were purchased by private collectors from Asia, which continues the trend of recent seasons. Noteworthy is the fact that prices, even for the best lots, are at the lower boundary of the valuation interval. David Norman, an expert at Sotheby’s, explains this with the expansion of the market, inflation, and the fact that buyers are reluctant to follow the lead of appraisers.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru