James Ensor record at Sotheby's Paris auction

A small painting by Belgian artist James Ensor, 'Squelette arrêtant masque' (1891), sold for €7.36 million at Sotheby's Paris, setting a new auction record for the artist. The 33x35 cm work, estimated at €1-1.5 million, was contested by 15 international collectors. The previous record was $6.97 million for 'Les poissardes mélancoliques' at Sotheby's New York in 2015. The painting was recently rediscovered in Ostend, where it had remained in the family collection to whom Ensor donated it over a century ago. The Impressionist & Modern Art auction totaled nearly €20 million. Other notable sales included Wifredo Lam's 'El Pianista' (over €600,000) and works by Masson, Brauner, Man Ray, and Van Dongen.