Gustave Loiseau and Lê Phổ Shine at Freeman’s | Hindman New York Auction

Freeman’s | Hindman’s Impressionist and Modern Art sale on October 28 achieved impressive results, realizing more than $3.1 million with an 84% sell-through rate by lot. Led by works by Gustave Loiseau, Bernard Buffet, Lê Phổ, Vũ Cao Đàm, and Henri Martin, the auction drew strong international participation from five continents—including eight phone bidders competing for the Loiseau—and welcomed 15% new buyers. The results reaffirm the house’s leadership and ongoing commitment to presenting significant and fresh works by French and Vietnamese artists.

Gustave Loiseau (French, 1865-1935) | Bords de Rivière (Possibly Tournedos-sur-Seine), circa 1899 | Sold for $356,100

Speaking to the sale is Raphaël Chatroux, Vice President, Head of Department, Impressionist and Modern Art. “I couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome of the sale, which follows a very dynamic Art Basel week in Paris and proves the continued strength of this now century-old category. I am particularly pleased with the result achieved by Loiseau’s 1899 canvas, which inspired remarkable pre-sale enthusiasm and a spirited ten-minute bidding battle on the auction floor: that is all we strive for.”

An Homage to French Impressionism

The top lot of the sale was Gustave Loiseau’s Bords de Rivière (Possibly Tournedos-sur-Seine), 1899, which soared past its $80,000–120,000 estimate to achieve $356,100. Depicting a sunlit stretch of the Seine, the painting exemplifies Loiseau’s signature diffusive light and rhythmic brushwork. A transitional work at the crossroads between his pre-1900 Impressionistic period and his later Modern hatching touch, the painting drew spirited competition across multiple channels, including eight phone bidders, and stands as a strong testament to the enduring appeal of Loiseau’s plein-air mastery.

Postwar Modernism: Buffet and Beyond

Bernard Buffet (French, 1928-1999) | Le Jacquet, 1955 | Sold for $216,400

Bernard Buffet (French, 1928-1999) | La Tour Eiffel, 1958 | Sold for $127,500

The day’s successes continued with two exceptional works by Bernard Buffet that achieved standout results, highlighting the continued demand for the French artist’s distinctive postwar style. His 1955 still life Le Jacquet realized $216,400, far surpassing its $100,000–150,000 estimate amid strong competition, while La Tour Eiffel (1958) achieved $127,500. Together, the two paintings reflect the breadth of Buffet’s oeuvre—from the introspective symbolism of his vanitas-inspired still lifes to the stark monumentality of his Parisian cityscapes—each revealing his expressive black contours and emotional gravity.

Other highlights included works by Pablo Picasso, Henri Martin, his son Jacques Martin-Ferrières, and Yvonne Canu, demonstrating strong market appeal for blue-chip names as well as a new generation of Post-Impressionist painters.

Vietnamese Modernists Confirm Market Rise

Lê Phổ (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) | La Cueillette des Marguerites, 1965 | Sold for: $140,200 

Lê Phổ (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) | Fleurs, 1970 | Sold for $108,450

Reaffirming Freeman’s | Hindman’s leadership in the market for Vietnamese modernists, the auction offered thirteen combined works by Lê Phổ (7) and Vũ Cao Đàm (6), all of which sold strongly to total $948,600 ($571,350 for Lê Phổ and $377,250 for Vũ Cao Đàm). These exceptional results confirm the firm’s Western leadership in this category and the continued global demand for Vietnamese modern art.

The category was led by two luminous floral compositions by Lê Phổ’s dazzling bucolic La Cueillette des Marguerites (1965) - painting on silk - and Fleurs (1970), which realized $140,200 and $108,450, respectively. Both works capture the artist’s radiant palette and poetic vision, reaffirming his enduring market appeal.

Also notable was a fine result for Françoise Gilot’s Aurélia au Jardin (Lot 7), which achieved $51,200 and confirmed both her talent as a draughtswoman and the market’s appetite for fresh, well-sourced pieces.

Additional Highlights

· Lot 47 Henri Jean Guillaume Martin (French, 1860-1943) | La Borie Sold for $127,500

· Lot 6 Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973) | Tête d'Homme (with Deux Têtes verso), 1969 | A Double-Sided Drawing Sold for $108,450

· Lot 70 Lê Phổ (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) | Bouquet Champêtre, 1966 Sold for $108,450

· Lot 85 Vũ Cao Đàm (French/Vietnamese, 1908-2000) | Divinité Blanche, 1976 Sold for $102,100

· Lot 51 Lê Phổ (French/Vietnamese, 1907-2001) | La Promenade, 1956 Sold for $83,050