'Dynamic' Orientalist art achieves World Record prices in France

Art values are multiplying for Eastern-inspired paintings by Jose Cruz Herrera and others

"If there is a particularly dynamic art market today, then it is that of Orientalism," says the Paris auction house Artcurial after announcing total 2010 Orientalist art sales of €1,570,000.

The term "Orientalism", previously used to describe Oriental academic studies, became more widely used to refer to the works of French artists in the 19th century.

Jose Cruz Herrera's (1890-1972) The Betrothed (detail)

During that time, the country's painters became increasingly inspired by their travels to non-European countries like North Africa and Western Asia.

Among the record auction prices for such artworks at Artcurial was Jose Cruz Herrera's (1890-1972) The Betrothed (detail), pictured above.

The work sold for €471,400 - achieving a World Record price for the artist and also tripling the artwork's previous market value.

Other World Record auction sales were achieved by Alexandre Roubtzoff's (1884-1949) Bedouin Tunis, 1935 (pictured top right) sold for €434,300, and Léon Girardet's (1856-1895) Interior of a Moorish house, which realised €68,700.

Léon Girardet's (1856-1895) Interior of a Moorish house

In particular, the Roubtzoff work quadrupled is previously registered value.

Hoping to continue this success, Artcurial's next Orientalist art sale will be held on December 1 - and major pieces by Majorelle, Cruz Herrera, Dinet, and Fabius Brest Roubtzoff have already been consigned.

The December sale will be held at Hotel Marcel Dassault, in Paris.

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Images: Artcurial