Claude Monet’s Masterpiece Heads to Auction
One of Claude Monet’s paintings, which has been kept in private collections for several decades, will soon be presented at auction, with expectations that it could fetch several million euros.
The painting, created by the French master of Impressionism, has been circulating among private art collections since 1948. It is estimated to sell for around €3 million (approximately $3.22 million) at an upcoming auction in Paris this May.
The landscape painting, titled “Les Saules, Giverny” (Willow Trees, Giverny), was painted by Monet in 1886. It will be presented in the French art market at a time when Monet’s works have become increasingly rare in France in recent years.
This artwork is among dozens of pieces included in the Impressionist and Modern Art Auction organized by Ader Auction House, scheduled for November 24.
According to the auction house representatives, Monet’s paintings of this scale and subject matter are no longer found within French families. Most similar works are now held in major museums or international collections, making their appearance in France a rare event.
This oil painting, created on a canvas measuring 73 by 92 centimeters, belongs to a Jewish family who has kept it in their Paris apartment for decades. The family’s grandfather purchased “Les Saules, Giverny” from an art gallery in Nice back in 1948. Since then, the painting has remained in the family’s private collection.
Although “Les Saules, Giverny” is not as famous as Monet’s legendary Water Lilies series, some of which have been sold for up to €100 million, it still reflects Monet’s distinctive style and mastery of light.
Experts highlight the dynamic brushstrokes and Monet’s unique technique in capturing light as prominent features of this painting.
Monet lived in the village of Giverny, France, from 1883 until his death 43 years later. In this village, he was surrounded by nature’s beauty. At the heart of his sunlit garden, he built a man-made pond adorned with flowers. This pond quickly became one of his favorite subjects, inspiring countless paintings featuring water lilies, which became symbolic of his artistic legacy.
At the same time as “Les Saules, Giverny”, Ader Auction House will also present “Portrait of a Young Woman with a White Hat” by American painter Mary Cassatt, with an estimated value between €800,000 and €1.2 million.
The auction of “Les Saules, Giverny” comes shortly after another Monet masterpiece from the Water Lilies series, titled “Water Lily Pond” (1917–1919), was offered by Christie’s in November during a 20th Century Art Auction, with an estimated value of $65 million.
The record for the most expensive Monet painting ever sold was set in May 2019, when one of his Haystacks series sold for $110.7 million, far exceeding the pre-sale estimate of $55 million. This sale also broke the record for the highest price ever achieved for an Impressionist painting.
Claude Monet remains one of the most celebrated artists in the world. His works embody the essence of the Impressionist movement, which emerged around 1860 in the urban and industrial landscape of Paris.
Impressionist painters like Monet focused on capturing fleeting moments, portraying the shifting effects of light and color at different times of day and in varying weather conditions. Their goal was to depict a specific moment in time.
Considering these qualities, Monet’s Water Lilies series is regarded as a masterpiece of Impressionism and represents the most extensive and iconic collection of his artistic career.