For the first time in three decades, Vincent van Gogh’s Les canots amarrés (Moored Boats) will reenter the art market. Set to be auctioned at Christie’s Hong Kong on September 26, 2024, the painting carries an estimated price between HKD $230 million and HKD $380 million ($30 million–$50 million USD). If the sale hits its upper estimate, this vibrant 1887 landscape will become the most expensive work by a Western artist sold at auction in Asia, surpassing Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Warrior, which fetched HKD $323.6 million ($41.7 million USD) in 2021.
A Historic Provenance and Artistic Context
Van Gogh painted Les canots amarrés during a pivotal period of his artistic career while residing in Asnières, a picturesque village along the Seine River near Paris. This landscape, part of a trio of works, captures the serene atmosphere of a summer day with vivid colors and loose brushwork—characteristic of Van Gogh’s artistic freedom toward the end of his life.
The other two paintings in the series—Ponts sur la Seine à Asnières and Restaurant de la Sirène, Asnières—are housed in the Emil Bührle Collection and the Ashmolean Museum, respectively.
Max Carter, vice chairman of 20th/21st Century Art at Christie’s Americas, praised the work’s depiction of Van Gogh’s “perfect artistic freedom,” noting that the artist “brightens his palette and celebrates the subtle harmonies of an exquisite summer day.” This work exemplifies Van Gogh’s departure from traditional techniques, embracing a brighter and more liberated style in the final years of his life.
Provenance and Ownership
The painting boasts a fascinating ownership history. Initially part of the Royal Family of Bourbon-Two Sicilies’ collection—descendants of Sicily’s historical rulers—it was purchased in 1991 by Italian actress Edy Vessel at a Sotheby’s auction in London. Vessel’s daughter, Princess Camilla, now offers the painting at auction through a family trust. This impressive lineage adds to the allure of the piece.
Asian Art Market and Van Gogh’s Influence
If the upper estimate of $50 million is met, Les canots amarrés will set a new benchmark for Western art sold in Asia, illustrating the region’s growing appetite for masterpieces from European art history. The painting will be on display from September 22 to 26 at Christie’s Asia Pacific Headquarters in Hong Kong, giving art enthusiasts and collectors a chance to view this rare piece before the auction.
As global demand for art continues to rise, particularly in the Asian market, this sale is expected to draw international attention, positioning Van Gogh’s work as a symbol of both artistic legacy and economic value.
Van Gogh’s Les canots amarrés represents a significant moment in the art world as it heads to auction with the potential to set a record. Its rich provenance, combined with the enduring appeal of Van Gogh’s work, ensures that this auction will be a landmark event. The painting’s delicate interplay of color and form captures not only the artist’s genius but also the essence of a transformative period in art history.
