Sharjah 24 – AFP: A Vincent van Gogh painting, marking the artist's transition from dark realism to vibrant impressionism, sold for $32.2 million at a Hong Kong auction on Thursday, falling short of expectations for a record-breaking price.
Titled "Les canots amarres" (The Moored Boats), the piece was the highlight of Christie's inaugural evening sale at its new Asia Pacific headquarters. The painting was anticipated to fetch between HK$230 million and HK$380 million (approximately $30 million to $50 million).
Had it reached the higher estimate, it could have surpassed Jean-Michel Basquiat's "Warrior," which sold for HK$323.6 million in 2021, making it the most expensive Western painting sold in Asia. Instead, the auction concluded with a final bid of HK$250 million.
Cristian Albu, deputy chairman at Christie's Asia Pacific, noted that the price set a record for a Van Gogh in Asia. The auction house had approached the event with caution, hoping to boost market confidence.
Described as "the most important painting by the artist ever to be offered in Asia," "Les canots amarres" represents a significant moment in Van Gogh's career. Created in the summer of 1887 near the scenic town of Asnieres, the painting reflects his shift to a brighter, more expressive palette.
Princess Camilla of the House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the painting's owner, emphasized its historical significance in Van Gogh's career, noting that she chose Hong Kong for the sale to engage with the growing base of collectors interested in Western art.
Vincent van Gogh, born in the Netherlands in 1853, produced around 2,100 works during his short career, including approximately 860 oil paintings, before his death in 1890. Christie's auction also featured other notable works, including Monet's "Nymphéas," which sold for just under $30 million, again at the low end of estimates.
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