Sotheby’s Takes Residence at a Historic Location in Paris

W hy Paris? For centuries, and today more than ever, the City of Light has been the beating heart of the art world. At number 83, Sotheby’s new Paris location will become a hub for art lovers, discerning collectors and all those who, like the Bernheim-Jeune brothers before us, believe in the avant-garde, in audacity and in artistic innovation.

The address of Sotheby’s new Paris headquarters bears the mark of a pillar of modern art and of the art market: the Bernheim-Jeune gallery. Founded at the end of the 19th century by Alexandre Bernheim, the gallery became the epicenter of artistic modernity at the turn of the century. Under the direction of the Bernheim-Jeune brothers, it moved to 83, rue du Fabourg-Saint-Honoré and established itself as an incubator of the avant-garde.

Now Open

Sotheby’s Paris at 83, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré

The brothers did not merely exhibit paintings, they supported visionary artists who challenged the conventions of their time. The Bernheim-Jeunes understood the importance of defending creators who were often rejected by conservative academic circles. Their gallery became the cradle of the Impressionists, with landmark exhibitions spotlighting artists like Claude Monet, Pierre Auguste Renoir and Édouard Manet. It was also one of the first to give visibility to the works of Vincent van Gogh, who was still then unknown to the general public. The Bernheim-Jeune brothers championed the Nabis, exhibiting the works of Pierre Bonnard, Édouard Vuillard and Maurice Denis. Extending its scope beyond French artists, the gallery backed emblematic figures of the Paris School, like Pablo Picasso and Amedeo Modigliani.

Supporting these young talents was a bold gamble that would prove decisive for modern art.

This location is much more than a simple exhibition space; it is the crucible where a new vision of art was forged – and where the art market as we know it today took shape. Sotheby’s is proud to carry on this torch and continue 83 rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré’s legacy as a cultural and artistic crossroads in Paris. It is here that, at the beginning of the last century, the avant-garde made its mark, turning this district into a veritable laboratory of new ideas. On the same street, Bernheim-Jeune gallery neighbored the couturier Paul Poiret, a fashion revolutionary whose daring creations transformed the clothing style of the Belle Époque.

While embracing this rich heritage, Sotheby’s positions itself resolutely toward the future, ready to write, with each artwork, each sale, the next chapters in the history of art – in the very heart of the City of Light.

In this context, Sotheby’s is proud to present its auction Modernités: a sale that perfectly reflects this spirit of continuity and innovation, combining modern and contemporary art. Bringing together works from different eras, this sale offers an audacious retelling of the story of art, while reaffirming the importance of Paris as the epicenter of the global art market. With Modernités, Sotheby’s not only pays homage to history but becomes its guiding thread, led by a vision that honors the past while embracing the challenges of the future.

Upcoming Auction

Modernités

18 October 2024 | 3:30 PM CEST | Paris

Originally published in 83 Magazine. Translated from French by writer and art historian Marina Molarsky-Beck.