Christie’s New York Impressionist and Modern Art Works on Paper and Day Sales Total: $63 Million

New York, 19 May 2026 - Christie's New York embarked on the second day of 20/21 Spring Marquee Week with outstanding results, totaling $63 million for both sales. The day began with Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper in the morning, which achieved an exceptional outcome of $21.2 million, outperforming expectations and establishing the highest total ever in the sale's history. The afternoon continued with the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, which also surpassed its high estimate to achieve $41.7 million. Together, the sales realized $63 million, bringing the running total of the week to $1,184,142,311.

The morning began with the Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper Sale achieving unprecedented levels of success from the outset, achieving a total of $21,252,105, selling 97% by lot, 92% by value. The sale was led by a colorful Picasso from the collection of Joanna Carson entitled Homme et femme, which sold for more than three times its low estimate of $700,000, totaling $2.5 million. This was followed by a 1959 Magritte featuring the artist's signature motif bowler-hatted men, Le mois des vendanges, which sold for $2.1 million, more than seven times its low estimate.

Jakob Angner, Head of the Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper Sale, remarks, "Today's sale total was an unequivocal success and the highest in the sale's history. What emerged over the course of sale was the continued appetite for rarity, freshness, and historical resonance, qualities that distinguished the strongest works in the sale. We were especially delighted to witness El Lissitzky achieve a new world auction record for a work on paper, surpassing a benchmark that had stood, remarkably, since 1990."

The afternoon continued with the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, which achieved $41,763,706, selling 98% by value, 94% by lot. The sale kicked off on a high note, with the very first lot, Untitled by Bridget Tichenor, achieving $838,200, making 14 times the low estimate and setting a new auction record for the artist, more than double her previous record. The top lot of the sale was Le peintre et son modele dans un paysage, a Picasso from the collection of Alberto Churba, which sold for $3.7 million. This was followed by Femme nue couchee dans un paysage, a Renoir painting that realized more than double its low estimate to sell for $2.4 million.

Emmanuelle Loulmet, Head of the Impressionist and Modern Art Day Sale, remarks, "It was such a treat to see deep bidding across the many periods and price points represented in this afternoon's sale, with active participation from a packed room, online bidders, and clients on the phones. We were especially thrilled to begin the sale by setting a new world auction record for the Surrealist artist Bridget Tichenor with Lot 1, and honored to establish a new benchmark price for such a talented and historically underrecognized artist. The energy and depth of bidding throughout the afternoon felt incredibly encouraging. With a 94% sell-through rate across 161 lots offered in a Day Sale and a sold total of $41,763,706, it's fair to say the art market is back."

(Press Release)