The art world is a lively environment, where beauty and economic value meet every day
. Behind every hammer blow in an auction room lies not only the end of a negotiation, but also
the recognition of a work of art and the work of those who created it. Auctions are not just sales: they are true reflections of the tastes of an era and indicators of current trends.
It is like a game played in the auction room, where every move is guided by strategy and intuition, all with a single goal: to win the most coveted work.
The Art of Selling Art: Appraisals, Bids, and Sales
An art auction follows a clear process designed to be transparent and
fair. It all starts with the appraisal of the work: the auction house and the seller evaluate the piece
taking into account its rarity, condition, and how many similar works have been
sold in the past. Together with the seller, a starting price is set and, often, a
reserve price, i.e., the minimum threshold below which the work will not be sold.
When the day of the auction arrives, the real protagonist is the auctioneer. He or she presents each work
and starts the bidding between the bidders. Bids can come from those present in the room, but
also from those participating online, by telephone, or who have sent a written bid before the event.
Each bid must comply with the minimum increments established, and the competition continues until
no one raises the stakes anymore.
When there are no more bids, the auctioneer bangs the gavel and announces "sold": the work is
sold to the highest bidder, provided that the reserve price has been exceeded. If that
minimum is not reached, the sale is not concluded.
The Pillars of the Market: Christie’s, Sotheby’s, Phillips, and
In the international auction scene, some auction houses stand out as true
institutions. Christie’s, founded in London in 1766, and Sotheby’s, founded in London in 1744, are the
giants of the sector, with a long history and a reputation that no one can match.
Both have headquarters in major world capitals (London, New York, Paris,
Hong Kong) and cover a wide range of specializations, from ancient to contemporary art,
jewelry, and furniture. Each of their auctions is a global event, capable of attracting
the attention of collectors and media from every corner of the world.
Alongside these giants, Phillips, also founded in London in 1796, has made its mark. In recent years, Phillips has carved out a prominent space for itself, specializing in modern and contemporary art
and distinguishing itself with a more innovative approach that is attentive to new artistic trends
.
Record Sales in the First Half of 2025
Christie's in New York opened the spring season with an auction held on May 12, 2025, at the
Rockefeller Center. Four of the five
most important sales of the year so far were recorded in two consecutive sessions.
In first place is Piet Mondrian with Composition with Large Red Plane, Bluish Gray, Yellow,
Black and Blue (1922), a masterpiece of geometric abstraction sold for $47.5 million
. Next is Claude Monet with Peupliers au bord de l'Epte, crépuscule,
, an icon of Impressionism that fetched $42.9 million. In third place is Mark Rothko with
No. 4 (Two Dominants) [Orange, Plum, Black], which brought home $37.7 million thanks to
the intensity of abstract expressionism. Fourth is René Magritte with L'empire des lumières, first
canvas, a surrealist work that enchanted collectors at $34.9 million.
These results demonstrate how the great masters of Modernism and Impressionism remain
valuable safe-haven assets, while abstract expressionism and surrealism continue to arouse
interest.
To complete this overview, on April 10, 2025, Sotheby's in Hong Kong auctioned
a piece of cursive calligraphy from the Yuan dynasty by Rao Jie. The work, of inestimable historical and
artistic value, sparked a 95-minute bidding war, reaching $32
million. This outcome is clear evidence of the growth of Asian collecting
: it is no longer a niche market, but a rapidly expanding sector, where
millennial culture translates into concrete economic value.
The results for the first half of 2025 show that, contrary to rumors of a declining art market
, the sector continues to move forward with strength and vitality. In this scenario,
Artistinct is at your side to enhance a market rich in opportunities, offering works that
range across various price points.
We help you understand and navigate the world of auctions, to give each work the value it deserves.
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