Van Gogh: the crazy story of the painting hidden for a century, and soon to be sold

It is a major event for the art world. A painting by Van Gogh, owned by a French family for a century, is finally revealed for the first time. Dated 1887, this Street scene in Montmartre is one of the few paintings by the Dutch painter from a private collection. Estimated between 5 to 8 million euros, it will be sold on March 25 by the teams of Sotheby’s in Paris, in partnership with the Mirabaud-Mercier auction house.

This is what the public has never been able to contemplate: the Butte Montmartre, with its bucolic landscape, with a blue-gray winter sky. In the foreground, a couple is walking, two children are playing not far from them. Behind a mauve barrier and a green portico, we see a mill. This is the Pepper Mill, located within the walls of the Moulin de la Galette, and destroyed in 1911.

With a French family since 1920

This is a real discovery made by auctioneers Claudia Mercier and Fabien Mirabaud. “The painting was acquired by this French family around 1920. It has not changed since its acquisition, it has remained in the same family. They remember having seen it in their ancestor’s office, lived with it. , liked it “, specifies to L’Express Claudia Mercier – to whom the owners have entrusted the painting -, her voice tinged with emotion.

–

Limited offer. 2 months for 1 € without commitment

–

Traceability is not fully established. The painting was certainly given to Van Gogh’s brother before it arrived at a merchant, where it was sold. For more than a century, the charm of this Street scene in Montmartre remained hidden. “The painting was just known through the catalog raisonné, it was listed but we had no knowledge of it, apart from a black and white photo”, explains Claudia Mercier.

It is therefore revealed a hundred years later. An ambitious operation has been prepared “for a while”. The Mirabaud-Mercier house has partnered with Sotheby’s for the sale, offering optimal visibility, and also international. “The two auctioneers are at the origin of this partnership. They decided to make a joint operation, it is a daring strategy”, underlines Pierre Mothes, vice-president of Sotheby’s France.

Pivotal work

Success is already there. Van Gogh’s works dedicated to the Montmartre district are rare, and the painting arouses enthusiasm in the world. “There are paintings by Van Gogh that are in private collections, but most are or have been loaned or exhibited. It is rare and special that this is not the case for this specific painting,” explains to L ‘ Express Nienke Bakker, art historian, curator at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. “Van Gogh made his paintings to share with others, so it would be wonderful if the painting ended up in a museum for everyone to see,” she enthuses.

This work constitutes a precious testimony to Montmartre at the end of the 19th century. “We are after Haussmann’s major works, which were not uniform. Certain districts have escaped it a little. Montmartre remains, as it is today, a somewhat separate enclave in a large urbanization of Paris, explains Pierre Mothes. It is one of the iconic places which caught the eye of Van Gogh, and which disappeared when Montmartre became denser. This illustrates well the fascination for bucolic scenes, for Paris, and a Paris which is already disappearing a bit at the end of the 19th century. ”

The Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre, late 19th century.

Sotheby’s

The Moulin de la Galette in Montmartre, late 19th century.

Sotheby’s

This is a pivotal work, according to specialists. The picture was painted during Van Gogh’s two years in Paris. He lives with his brother Théo in an apartment rue Lepic, in Montmartre. During this period, his style evolved. “He has a palette of colors that became much lighter during his Parisian period. The Dutch period was very dark, hard. He meets Signac, the post-impressionists … We can already see the Van Gogh that he will become later, we feel the beginnings “, analyzes Claudia Mercier. “Many influences are synthesized in this painting”, summarizes Pierre Mothes.

“We may not see him again”

After being exhibited in Amsterdam in early March, the work will be shown in Hong Kong (March 9 to 12) and will return to Paris to be presented at Drouot (March 16 to 18) then at Sotheby’s (March 19 to 23). . According to Claudia Mercier, the Street scene in Montmartre went “viral” while in Hong Kong. It must be said that Asian customers show a keen interest in the works of Van Gogh. “Over the past ten years, clients from Asia have bid for 788.7 million dollars on works by the artist at Sotheby’s, or 42% of the total amount of the auction,” we told L ‘Express.

“The sale will be done in a multiplex with London. We make it a real international event but we are happy to sell in Paris. All the elements are there for this table to exceed the estimates”, estimates Pierre Mothes. “Van Gogh is universal. He is a painter that can be read on several levels. Like all great artists, it speaks to all audiences, we see it through this painting.”

In the absence of a crystal ball, it is difficult to predict the outcome. But the latest sales are setting the trend. In November 2017, the Plowman in the field reached over $ 81 million at Christie’s, New York. And that same auction house announced Monday than a drawing by the painter, La Mousmé, sold for over $ 10 million.

Who will be the buyer? Answer at the end of March. “There is something moving in this story, confides Claudia Mercier. We would be delighted if everyone could admire it, at the museum. But it may be bought by a private. We have the chance to see it now. , maybe we won’t see him again. ”