Marc-Arthur Kohn, portrait of a Parisian auctioneer

Who is Marc-Arthur Kohn?

I was born among art dealers specialized in modern art. I joined the Louvre's school from which I graduated well. At this moment I met an auctioneer  who brought me into this business in eastern France  where I stayed for 20 years. Since I was near the Swiss border I opened a major  modern art department and became the most important  auctioneer of this specialty in Switzerland for 18 years. After that I got back in Paris still as an auctioneer.  We recently opened a showroom at the 24 avenue Matignon  between two major international houses: Christie's and Sotheby's.  We wish to exhibit the art works we offer for sale at auction,  but also to open a cultural space for art exhibitions.  This reminds me the Louvre's School and my love for art. The showroom will be open to anyone, free and cultural.

Since French auction houses can make direct sales, is it the end of the private galleries?

No. Even with this new law,  auction houses and private galleries aren't competitors at all.  This law allows French auction houses to catch up with the English auctioneers. As far as I know English and American dealers are doing well, and even better than most French dealers. So the major auction houses have no bad impact on the business of private galleries. This law now allows the auctioneer to give a choice to his clients among a public auction sale with a catalogue, or a more discrete sale as dealers do. An auctioneer offers a different type of service.

How do you see the future for the art market?

As we can see in the past, top quality pieces will remain. This is also true for the specialties that have a bit lost of the public's interest, if the quality is predominant. Nowadays impressionist art ais very expensive, but all the post-impressionist artists that are today disregarded will soon gain in value for those made between 1890 and 1930.

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