Picasso, Leger paintings seen fetching millions at London auction

Spanish artist Pablo Picasso and French artist Fernand Lege’s abstract paintings are expected tens of millions of dollar at a London auction.

Employees sit by "Femme dans un fauteuil", a 1913 painting by French cubist artist Fernand Leger, during a photocall at Christie's auction house in London, Britain, June 14, 2019.
Reuters

Employees sit by "Femme dans un fauteuil", a 1913 painting by French cubist artist Fernand Leger, during a photocall at Christie's auction house in London, Britain, June 14, 2019.

Abstract paintings depicting the female form by Pablo Picasso and Fernand Leger are expected to fetch tens of millions of dollars at auction when they go under the hammer next week, according to Christie’s auction house.

“Femme dans un fauteuil”, painted by French cubist artist Leger in 1913, is one of a group of five figurative works featuring a seated woman. It has an estimated price tag of $31.56 million.

Picasso’s green “Homme et femme”, painted by the Spanish artist in a day in 1968, is a self-portrait of himself intertwined with his wife Jacqueline, according to Jason Carey, head of impressionist and modern art at Christie’s. It is estimated to sell for $12-19 million, he said.

Reuters

Employees adjust "Homme et femme", a 1968 painting by Pablo Picasso, during a photocall at Christie's auction house in London, Britain, June 14, 2019.

Also for sale at Christie’s “Impressionist and Modern Art” sale on June 18 is a 1937 painting by French artist Henri Matisse, of a young female model wearing clothes he bought at markets in Nice. It is seen fetching $6-10 million.

“We have Asian collectors, we have new buyers, we have collectors of contemporary art who are looking back to the avant-garde as well like artists such as Leger,” Carey said of the appetite for modern art. “There’s really competing forces.”

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