James Ensor Oil to Reappear on the Market
Freeman’s | Hindman is proud to announce the sale of James Ensor’s rediscovered 1936 still life, Chinoiseries Fleuries, in its upcoming Impressionist and Modern Art auction on April 30 in Philadelphia. Estimated at $150,000–250,000, the canvas makes its first-ever appearance at auction after remaining hidden in a private New Orleans collection for over 50 years.
This rare work is one of only a few oils by Ensor entirely devoted to chinoiseries—Asian decorative objects the artist often depicted with playful reverence. The pots, vases, and figurines portrayed in the oil were part of Ensor’s daily life, drawn directly from his family souvenir shop in Ostend, Belgium.
“We are thrilled to offer such an important work,” says Raphaël Chatroux, Head of Sale. “Still lifes make up nearly a third of Ensor’s work. This piece is essential for understanding his personality and technique—how he perceived the world through light and color.”
James Ensor In Studio Image Courtesy of Mu.ZEE, City of Ostend Collection
Executed when the artist was in his 70s, Chinoiseries Fleuries showcases Ensor’s unique blend of Impressionism and Surrealism, arranged in a delicate symphony of pinks. Its reappearance comes shortly after Belgium celebrates the 75th anniversary of Ensor’s death—a timely homage to a visionary artist who is rare on the market.
Modern Gems Alongside the Ensor oil, Freeman’s | Hindman's April 30 auction features a strong lineup of Post-Impressionist and Modern works. Leading the sale is Henri Le Sidaner’s serene Le Banc (1903), estimated at $200,000–300,000. Set in the artist’s garden in Gerberoy (North of France), the glowing scene captures a resting dog beneath golden summer light—a dreamlike moment typical of Le Sidaner’s poetic, pointillist style. The canvas, which boasts the hallmarks of the artist’s best oils, belonged to the Comédie Française actor “Coquelin cadet " and famed Parisian gallerist Georges Petit.
Lot 13 | Henri Le Sidaner (French, 1862-1939) | Le Banc (Gerberoy), 1903 | Estimate: $200,000 - 300,000
Lot 23 | Suzanne Valadon (French, 1865-1938) | Nus à la Toilette, 1908 | Estimate: $120,000 - 180,000
Another standout is Suzanne Valadon’s 1908 canvas, Nus à la Toilette, estimated at $120,000–180,000. Executed during a pivotal year in the artist’s career, the work presents a bold reinterpretation of the classical bather motif, challenging traditional portrayals of the female nude with raw, modern candor. The painting comes to the market at a timely moment, coinciding with the significant Valadon retrospective currently on view at the Centre Pompidou in Paris—the first since 1967, when Nus à la Toilette was last exhibited there. Its re-emergence is expected to draw strong interest from both collectors and institutions worldwide.
Prestigious Provenance
The April 30th auction features many works from noteworthy private collections. Two surrealist works by Spanish artist Olga Sacharoff, come from the Estate of Helen Scott—an acclaimed pianist and wife of Robert Montgomery Scott, former President and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1982-1996). Quite coincidentally, works by Ossip Zadkine and Jean Souverbie come from the Collection of Robert Sturgis Ingersoll, another former president of the Philadelphia Museum of Art (1948-1964).
Lot 9 | Olga Sacharoff (Russian, 1889-1967) | La Chasse, c. 1923 | Estimate: $20,000 - 30,000
Lot 27 | Pierre-Auguste Renoir (French, 1841-1919) | Nu Allongé, c. 1890 | Estimate: $150,000 - 250,000
A luminous pastel by Pierre-Auguste Renoir and an intriguing Odilon Redon oil also come fresh to market from the Collection of Dr. John Hagelin, a renowned physicist, peace advocate, and pioneer in the study of consciousness. Hagelin, President Emeritus of Maharishi International University, has addressed the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in 2023 and 2024 and is recognized globally for his "Theory of Everything" and research on meditation and the brain.
Additional Highlights
The sale also features standout works by Roberto Matta, Louis Anquetin, Diego Rivera, Camille Pissarro, Henri Martin, and many others. Of special note are eight works by Lê Phổ, the celebrated Franco-Vietnamese artist often sold at Freeman’s | Hindman. Led by the very large La Clarté d’Été, the works reflect the artist’s East-meets-West aesthetic and long-standing collaboration with dealer Wally Findlay.
