Greek art achieved one of its strongest performances in 15 years at a major Paris auction this week, with the "Greek Sales" event generating more than €3.65 million ($3.8 million).
Held by Bonhams in collaboration with Art Expertise, the auction saw nearly 90% of the works sold, with prices far exceeding pre-sale estimates.
The top seller was Yiannis Tsarouchis’ acclaimed painting The Esatzis, which fetched €508,400. It was followed by Giannis Moralis’ Epithalamium, which sold for €381,400.
A major surprise came from Nikos Hadjikyriakos-Ghika’s Hydra Landscape, which reached €330,600—six times its original estimate. Other high-performing works included pieces by Theophilos, Volanakis, and Engonopoulos.
Terpsichore Angelopoulou, director of Art Expertise, said the results reflect rising global interest in the sector.
"We are very happy that after 25 years in the Greek market, we continue to offer high-quality works with excellent provenance," Ms. Angelopoulou said.
"The prices encourage the creation of new collections."
The outcome underscores the growing momentum of Greek art internationally, as major auction houses expand thematic sales and collectors increasingly seek modern Mediterranean works.