A rare auction dedicated to symbolist art brings to the forefront in Paris over a hundred largely unknown works, offering a close-up view of refined collecting.
How does an exceptional symbolist collection come to be?
On February 10, the auction house Artcurial will present in Paris a core of paintings, drawings, and sculptures from a private Parisian collection. It consists of 113 symbolist works, heterogeneous but of uniformly high quality, gathered over about fifteen years.
The owner describes, in the preface to the catalog, a “collection guided by emotion,” built with the support of gallery owners and specialists. Moreover, the photographs of his Parisian apartment, reproduced in the catalog, testify to a refined taste and a true immersion in the fin de siècle spirit.
What scientific approach supports the sale?
This passion for the late 19th century allowed the collector to grasp the “mysterious poetry” of the artists linked to this movement and to select each piece with great care. Some works will remain in the collection, emphasizing the personal connection with the gathered core.
To enhance the ensemble, Matthieu Fournier, associate director of Artcurial, wanted a “true catalog” scientific, entrusted to art historian Maximilien Ambroselli. According to Fournier, this editorial work also represents a positioning on the future and the evolution of the market related to this field, thanks to an in-depth study approach that, he says, distinguishes the house from many competitors.
What characterizes symbolist art
Still only partially known to the general public today, symbolism, generally placed between 1880 and 1914, is an artistic and literary movement of European scope. It emerged as a syncretic aesthetic current, in reaction to the positivism and naturalism of the late 19th century, and spread in France, Belgium, the Scandinavian area, Italy, and beyond.
Animated by a strong poetic dimension, this language seeks mystery and a spiritual dimension, aiming at the hidden meaning of things rather than their appearance. The sale scheduled by Artcurial offers an overview of these explorations through French and foreign authors, putting established names in dialogue with figures still to be rediscovered.
Why is drawing at the center of this selection?
Browsing the catalog, the coexistence of famous artists and lesser-known authors is striking, as well as the central role assigned to drawing. Among the key pieces stands out the refined Jeune fille à la main tendue by Henri Martin, in burnt sanguine and black stone, a preparatory study for Les Fiancés, decoration of Dr. d’Herbécourt’s dining room, estimated between 30,000 and 40,000 euros.
Even more intense is the Méditation, fillette nue by Odilon Redon, a black pencil drawing, shaded and completed with pastel touches, valued between 60,000 and 80,000 euros. Together, these works show how the sheet, in this field, is often a privileged ground for invention and experimentation.
What role do female figures play in the collection?
One of the strong lines of the ensemble is the presence of numerous female effigies, often set in contemporary frames that enhance their character. The enigmatic Jeune fille à la robe au voile, with blue eyes, oil on canvas by Edmond Aman-Jean, estimated between 20,000 and 30,000 euros, stands out, embodying a suspended and allusive grace.
Alongside this, the magnetic Étude de tête by Luc-Olivier Merson, in black pencil and white chalk, with a strong psychological impact, is noteworthy. Additionally, the severe and original portrait of Anna Gabriele Rohde, wife of the Danish ceramist Nils Hansen Jacobsen, in green glazed stoneware with shades, is estimated at 6,000-8,000 euros, testifying to the dialogue between figurative and applied arts.
No less suggestive is Ondine, oil on panel by Paul Chabas, with an evanescent character, proposed with an estimate of 2,000-3,000 euros. Ideally closing this group is the pair of female nude studies for Venus Concordia by Edward Burne-Jones, estimated at 15,000-20,000 euros, attesting to the dialogue with the Pre-Raphaelite tradition.
What are the most surprising discoveries of symbolist art
Beyond the more well-known names, the collection holds some discoveries of great expressive strength. An example is the spectacular Testa di San Giovanni Battista by Élisabeth Sonrel, in black pencil, stump, and China ink, valued at 4,000-6,000 euros, where the sacred theme takes on almost visionary accents.
Equally fascinating is the three-pencil drawing on brown paper Le couple enlacé by Joseph Marius Avy, also proposed at 4,000-6,000 euros, which combines sensuality and delicacy of stroke. Additionally, the meticulous Study of a Woman in Profile by Alexandre Séon, in black pencil and stump, estimated between 3,000 and 4,000 euros, stands out, exemplary of the formal research typical of this author.
What space is there for curiosities and unusual objects?
Given the overall quality of the ensemble, Artcurial has chosen, in the words of Matthieu Fournier, to propose “inviting” estimates. That said, the selection is not limited to sheets and canvases but also includes curious objects that dialogue with the symbolist imagination.
For lovers of rarities, a carved oak chest with a chimera, in the style of F. Rupert Carabin, estimated at 600-800 euros, stands out, introducing a playful and fantastic note. Even more surprising is the sculpture La Sainte Face sur le voile de sainte Véronique by Maxime Réal del Sarte, in ivory, black stone, and green marble, with an estimate between 4,000 and 6,000 euros, with a strong devotional and material impact.
The following day, Wednesday, February 11 at 2:30 PM, about forty related lots will be included in a general sale of paintings and drawings (numbers 409-447), thus extending the focus dedicated to this aesthetic universe.
How has the market for these works developed?
The international market dedicated to this field is relatively recent and began to take shape starting in the 1970s. Until then, many works remained in local circuits or in collections difficult to reach, with limited circulation compared to other historical strands.
Some major exhibitions have contributed to increasing interest in the sector. A case in point is the retrospective on Fernand Khnopff at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in 1979, considered a fundamental milestone, followed by the major exhibition dedicated to Gustave Moreau at the Grand Palais between 1998 and 1999. These events have fueled research and new critical readings.
Despite the perception of symbolism as a complex and difficult-to-define movement, Matthieu Fournier believes that the potential is far from exhausted. In his view, this segment is destined to grow, also because the period is extraordinarily documented and offers much material for historians and researchers, in contrast to other less-studied fields.
When does the auction take place and how to visit the symbolist art exhibition
Entitled “Vision Symboliste, A Parisian collection”, the sale will be held at Artcurial Paris, at 7 rond-point des Champs-Élysées Marcel Dassault, 75008 Paris, on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at 2:30 PM. The session will be entirely dedicated to this corpus, with a very precise curatorial approach.
Public exhibitions are scheduled for Friday, February 6 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Saturday, February 7 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Monday, February 9 from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Tuesday, February 10 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Additionally, updated information on the calendar and conditions for participating in the auction are available on the auction house’s website Artcurial.
Overall, this symbolist art auction represents a significant testing ground for evaluating collecting related to this language, highlighting both recognized masters and authors to be rediscovered. The density of the offer and the scientific approach of the catalog could contribute to redefining market attention in the coming years.
As expert in digital marketing, Amelia began working in the fintech sector in 2014 after writing her thesis on Bitcoin technology. Previously author for several international crypto-related magazines and CMO at Eidoo. She is now the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Cryptonomist and Econique.
She is also a marketing teacher at Digital Coach in Milan and she published a book about NFTs for the Italian publishing house Mondadori, while she is also helping artists and company to entering in the sector. As advisor, Amelia is also involved in metaverse-related project such as The Nemesis and OVER.
