Zao Wou-Ki's 1952 Masterpiece Ville verte Leads Philippe Dennery Collection Auction at Artcurial

Artcurial will auction Zao Wou-Ki's 1952 painting Ville verte on June 6th 2025 at 2pm CET as the centerpiece of the Philippe Dennery Collection. Measuring 130 x 150 cm, this monumental work represents a pivotal moment in the artist's transition toward lyrical abstraction, blending Chinese tradition with Western modernism. The painting reveals a port scene with boats, cranes, and buildings beneath its abstract surface, executed in emerald green with red and ochre accents. Only eight works of this scale from this period exist in Zao Wou-Ki's archives, making Ville verte exceptionally rare. Philippe Dennery, a scientist, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, built his collection with discerning taste across cultures and eras. The auction will also include floor lamps by Alberto Giacometti and Régence period armchairs from Dennery's home. Artcurial, France's leading auction house, emphasizes its international reach and Asian market connections through this sale. Zao Wou-Ki arrived in Paris from Shanghai in 1948, becoming the most significant Chinese painter to emerge in the West during the latter half of the 20th century.