translated by Giorgina Arcuri

An interesting week is opening up for French auctions of modern and contemporary art. Paris and surroundings are going to offer various occasions to buy important pieces of high quality or even become owners of minor works, realized by very famous artists, for moderate amounts.
The events will be inaugurated on Monday 23rd by Cornette de Saint Cyr (Paris) with the Art Moderne - Art Contemporain auction, rich in paintings that are worth watching out for. Among the most important works: “Jeune femme blonde au corsage noir” (100-150 thousand euros) realized  by Leonard Tsuguharu Foujita during his youth, artist of Japanese origins active in France. Another interesting piece to look out for is: “Composition” (100-150 thousand euros) by Manolo Millares, Spanish artist founder of the Madrilenian avant-garde group El Paso.
Other interesting pieces are a Rene Magritte and a Juan Miro (both estimated at 120-150 thousand euros). Finally, a large section is dedicated to Chinese art with works by artists such as Wang Yan Cheng, Wang Keping, Hang Yan and Zhang Xiao Gang. In this section, we should point out two pieces by Zao Wou-Ki, Chinese artist active for a long time in Paris, whose works reflect the influence of Mirò, Picasso, Paul Klee, as well as Paul Cézanne’s and Henri Matisse’s works. The auction will present two of his canvases entitled “15.10.63” and “1.4.68” (estimated respectively at 180-220 thousand and 150-200 thousand euros).
On the same day, the Modern and Contemporary Art Sale of Pescheteau-Badin (Paris) will take place, offering more than two-hundred lots, generally estimated at a few hundred euros, but with important names in the catalogue. Therefore, it will be possible to get for moderate prices works by Fernand Léger, Roberto Matta, Yves Klein, Yan Pei Ming, Juan Mirò. Other two works stand out: “Hyss” by Victor Vasarely, who has recently realized his record for 1.1 million euros and “Septaries” by Victor Brauner (both estimated at 40-60 thousand euros).
The week’s most relevant auction for the modern and contemporary sector will definitely be the one on 25th June by Aguttes. The Tableaux XIXe, Modernes et Contemporains Sale will present more than three hundred lots at auction. Two canvases  by Eugéne Boudin, “Trouville, le port à marée basse” (100-120 thousand euros) and “Régate au large de Trouville” (150-200 thousand euros), will be auctioned next to “Dans les vignes” by Berthe Morisot  (120-150 thousand euros).
At auction there will also be an important work by Utrillo, “La délivrance de la France” (100-120 thousand euros); this work dates from 1944, mature period for the artist, one of the least present at auctions.
Among the works considered relevant we should also mention “Hyde Park” by Raul Dufy (100-120 thousand euros) and a bronze by Mirò entitled “Oiseau perché sur un arbre” (150-200 thousand euros).
Great interest is anticipated to be directed also at the artist of Ukraine origins but active mainly in France, Sonia Delaunay, co-founder with her husband Robert Delaunay and other artists of the so-called Orphic Cubism.
A work that has received one of the highest estimates is the oil on canvas “Squelette assis nu sur la chaise rouge” by Paul Delvaux (estimate 250-350 thousand euros). The author, of Belgian origins, is often compared to surrealists despite distinguishing himself from them in part for his tension towards a renewed classicism.
However, the strong piece of the evening is definitely “Die Rosen” by Wassily Kandinsky (1.2 -1.5 million euros). This work was executed in 1905 and has always belonged to important private collections, first in Stoccholm then in France. It is one of Kandinsky’s first works, previous to the development of his abstractionism.
It ends on Sunday 29th with the Tableaux XIXe, Modernes, Russes & Contemporains by Chevau-Légers Enchères Martin-Chausselat (Versaille). Even here we will find a beautiful painting by Maurice Utrillo “La rue Damiette à Sannois” (80-100 thousand euros); in this case, it is a work dating from 1937, which comes from a Paris collection. “La soirée dansante” by Jean Dufy will be presented with an estimate of  50-60 thousand euros.