Claude Venard enchante Drouot
Claude Vénard Delights Drouot: Radiant Bidding for the Joyful Post-Cubist
Paris, April 19, 2025 – Room 7, Hôtel Drouot
The auction house Expertisez Enchères confirmed the market's enthusiasm for French post-cubist painter Claude Vénard (1913–1999) with a remarkable series of results at the auction held on Friday, April 18, in Room 7 at Hôtel Drouot. Ten paintings from a single private collection were offered, coinciding with a current retrospective at the Jean Couty Museum in Lyon.
🔴 Spotlight on “Les Pédaleurs du ciel”
The star lot, Les Pédaleurs du ciel, a spectacular oil on canvas from 1965 (130 x 162 cm), was the subject of spirited bidding, reaching €29,000, right at the top of its estimated range of €20,000 to €30,000.
This emblematic piece from the 1960s reflects all of Vénard’s inventive power: bold black outlines, vivid flat colors, and a joyfully surreal scene that defies pictorial gravity. Highlighted by La Gazette de l’Hôtel Drouot, the painting perfectly exemplifies the freedom and poetic absurdity that characterize Vénard’s signature style.
🌈 Colorful Results Reflect Vénard’s Market Appeal
All ten paintings sold, many exceeding their high estimates:
These results confirm the strong demand for Vénard’s works, particularly from the 1960s — works that showcase a bold aesthetic, luminous palette, and unique freedom of composition.
🎤 Well-Attended Conference on the Eve of the Sale
On Thursday, April 17, during Drouot’s evening opening, Expertisez Enchères hosted a conference exploring the dialogue between Contemporary Art and Tribal Art. The event drew a wide audience and provided meaningful context for Claude Vénard’s joyful approach to form and color, paralleled in the expressive power of the tribal art pieces also featured in the sale.
🖼️ Claude Vénard in the Spotlight in Lyon
This sale echoed the ongoing retrospective “The Joy of Post-Cubism” at the Jean Couty Museum in Lyon, on view until May 4. The paintings presented at auction came from the collection of someone close to the artist, further enhancing their rarity and emotional resonance. The synergy between museum exhibition and public auction proved compelling to collectors and connoisseurs alike.
📞Contact:
Elodie Couturier
Auctioneer
Director, Expertisez Enchères
📞 +33 6 09 91 37 87
✉️ contact@expertisez.com
🌐 www.expertisez.com
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