A Superlative Selection of “Oeuvres Choisies” at Drouot

The Hôtel Drouot handles a higher volume of objects annually than either Christie's or Sotheby’s.  Its quarterly “ Oeuvres Choisies ” exhibitions gather the highlights in a single show that always merits a detour. The current installation, on view from May 17 – 21st in salle (room) 9, features an unusual number of museum-worthy objects. Many have appeared in the pages of the Gazette over the past months, and you will find links to those articles below. Let’s take a moment, however, to focus on a few pieces that also deserve attention. Women Painters and Collectors Works created by or associated with women are particularly present. Valentine Hugo’s delicate portrait of surrealist poet André Breton emerges from a field of crystalline shards. Her romantic obsession with the author of Nadja , the force of which even gave him pause, is evident…