Van Gogh painting sells for €31m

A VAN GOGH master-piece has gone under the hammer for over €31 million in New York.

L’Arlesienne, Madame Ginoux sold for $40,336,000, the fourth highest price paid at auction for a painting by the artist.

Picasso’s portrayal of his Russian ballerina wife Olga Khokhlova, entitled Le Repos, 1932, fetched €27,585,000 at Christie’s, well above pre-sale estimates of up to €15.8m.

The Van Gogh was painted in 1890, and was described as above all a homage to Paul Gauguin, whose departure from his side in 1888 had deeply depressed Van Gogh.

Le Repos is the first, largest and most historically important of three great paintings executed by Picasso at the end of January 1932.

Christie’s said it dealt with elements of Picasso’s life, including his fear of his own mortality and the relationship with his bi-polar, superstitious and temperamental wife Olga.

The total made at the impressionist and modern art evening sale, some e144m, was the second highest total for the category in the auction house’s history.

“The results reflect a strong, solid market — there were some very high prices but participating collectors remain focused and controlled,” said Christopher Burge, honorary chairman of Christie’s and the evening’s auctioneer.