Christie's and Sotheby's Paris Auctions: From Monet to Picabia

As the art market rebounds, Christie's and Sotheby's are gearing up for major autumn sales in Paris, showcasing collections that trace the evolution of Impressionism and Surrealism. Christie's will auction the Durand-Ruel collection on October 22-23, 2026, featuring 62 lots with estimates between €30-43 million. Highlights include Claude Monet's 'Bord des falaises à Pourville' (1882, est. €11-15 million), Camille Pissarro's 'Le Louvre, soleil d'hiver, matin' (1900, est. €2-3 million), Alfred Sisley's 'La route du Cœur-Volant en hiver, Louveciennes' (1872, est. from €2.5 million), and Pierre-Auguste Renoir's 'Jeunes filles au bord de la mer' (est. €4-6 million). The works will tour New York, Hong Kong, and London before the sale. Meanwhile, Sotheby's will offer the collection of Michel Périnet and Françoise Cailles on December 1-2, 2026, comprising around 200 lots of Surrealist art, Art Deco furniture, and jewelry. Notable pieces include six works by Francis Picabia, among them 'Sans titre' (circa 1926-27), once owned by Jacques Doucet and displayed alongside Picasso's 'Les Demoiselles d'Avignon', and 'Femme à l'ombrelle' (1924-25), acquired by André Breton. The collection also features furniture by Eugène Printz and Jean Dunand, and creations by Lalique and Boivin. These sales underscore Paris's enduring centrality in the art market, with London and Paris competing for European primacy during October's Frieze and Art Basel Paris.