Van Gogh Reborn! - Chapter 36

I visited the Marceau Gallery after two weeks.

There were more people than I thought.

In particular, reporters were camped at the front door, and thanks to Michelle Platini, we were able to avoid the disturbance by entering through the back door.

“Thank you for visiting.”

When Michelle greeted my grandpa, my grandpa also greeted her silently by nodding his head.

Unlike Henry Marceau, she has a good personality.

On the day of the incident, she immediately called, apologized and even inquired whether I had any injuries.

Even after that she sent some gifts separately as a form of apology.

Feeling my gaze on her, she turned towards me and asked with a smiling face.

“How have you been Hun.?”

“Not fine.”

She brought her mouth close to my ears and said.

“Don’t worry. I have requested the police for some security. If something like that happens again, the police will scold Henry.”

She seems to be still worried about the incident happened on the exhibition.

“It’s not because of that, it’s because I didn’t get a chance to visit Orsay and Louvre Museum.”

“Oh my, why?”

“Because of the reporters?”

“Ah….I see..”

I’ve been in Paris for almost a week, but I haven’t gotten a chance to see anything.

Like in Amsterdam, I want to quietly look around.

When I conveyed such thoughts, Michelle offered consolation saying.

“You are the trending topic in the media at this moment, so it can’t be helped for a while, but as soon other topic arises, interest will diminish little by little, so don’t lose hope. It will calm down soon.”

My hopes are also the same.

“Come this way.”

When Michelle opened the door, a small terrace came into my view.

It is a special seat from where you can overlook the Auction attached to the Marceau Gallery.

“How about something to drink?””

“It’s okay.”

Grandpa refused in a way as if saying that his anger was not completely relieved.

Michelle bowed her head without saying anything else as if she understood.

“What about Hun?”

“ I want Coke.”

“Ahh… We don’t have coke. How about juice?”

“I like orange juice.”

“ Okay.”

After saying that the staff will bring the juice, Michelle went away leaving us in the room and I asked grandpa.

“Grandpa, if we can’t go to the art museum because of reporters, we don’t have to stay in France..Right.?”.

“Yes.”

“Then shall we go back, so that I can draw.”

There is still about two months left until the promised day, but it will be much better than wasting time here.

“Hmm. That’s true.”

I thought Grandpa was thinking with his arms folded, but he clicked his tongue.

“Everything got ruined because of that punk. How nice would it have been if we got to look around here peacefully?”

That’s true.

“Don’t worry I’ve asked the Art museum officials, so there must be a way. Even though it’s frustrating until we get an answer, let’s endure it.”

“ Okay, Grandpa.”

If we use the early or late hours, like when we visited the Van Gogh Museum, we may be able to avoid attention.

As I nodded and waited, the auction hall started getting filled with people.

Some people covered their faces with masks.

The behavior of rich humans is really incomprehensible.

I couldn’t see Henry Marceau anywhere.

The orange juice brought by the staff was surprisingly excellent.

‘How on earth did they think of adding carbonated drink to orange juice?’

It bounces in my mouth like coke and blends with the scent of orange, refreshing my mouth.

The person who made this orange juice is also a great artist.

While I was admiring the orange juice, the host of the auction stepped up.

“We sincerely welcome our guests. I’m today’s host, Seo Yerin.”

People applauded lightly.

Thinking that one of them will be buying my painting today makes me look at them for no reason.

Richard Phillips, an acquaintance of my grandpa, was also seen in the crowd.

“There are a total of three works submitted today. Let’s take a look at each piece.”

Following the guidance of the host Seo Yerin, an Auction employee came out with a painting covered with a cloth.

The work released in the middle of the stage is a self-portrait of Henry Marceau.

As far as I remember, it is the 760th work.

“Oh, oh”.

“Hmm.”

People who visited the auction house also shed exclamations.

“It’s Henry Marceau’s 760th self-portrait. The sharp brush touch with oil painting on the 30F canvas is impressive. This hat here is a hand-folding of Afghanistan’s purlin pigment.”

She was a very knowledgable auctioneer.

She seems to be well aware of the factors that shape the price of the work.

“ The materials used in a work also affect the price of the work. In particular, they have to consider the expensive materials such as blue stones used in the work.”

As grandfather said, blue stone is an expensive material that greatly affects the price of the work.

Ultra Marine, made of blue gold stone, was as expensive as gold in the 19th century, so I dare not imagine it.

Its value is still no different now.

“I don’t have to tell you in detail about the Artist Henry Marceau.”

When Seo Yerin beckoned, Henry Marceau’s history was introduced on a large screen.

[Graduated from Rhode Island School. ]

[Master’s degree and Ph.D from the Royal College of Fine Arts in UK. ]

[Venice Biennale Silver Lion Award. ]

[Hugo Boss Art Award. ]

[2025 Turner Award.]

I don’t know in detail, but he received a lot of awards.

”Then let’s start Henry Marceau’s 760th self-portrait auction. “

The bidding start price is 100,000 euros. Do you have 100,000 euros?

I was surprised that the starting price was 100,000 euros, but a man immediately raised a hand sign.

“Thank you. It’s 100,000 euros. I’m looking for 200,000 euros. Do we have 200,000 euros?”

What’s wrong with these people.

People scramble the hold up signs at a price that has doubled straight away.

“The gentleman in the back bid 200,000 euros. Thank you. Do we have 400,000 euros?”

Henry Marceau’s 760th self-portrait soared to 800,000 euros in an instant.

No one hesitates even though the host doubles it every time.

Every time a bidder comes out.

“Do we have 1.6 million euros?”

Even when it reached 1.6 million euros, a person hold out the hand sign.

“All right. I’ll go with 2 million euros this time. Do we have 2 million euros?”

A young women and middle-aged men alternately competed.

Although it is an outstanding work, I was confused at the price they are wishing to buy it for.

“Do we have 2.8 million euros? I’m looking for 2.8 million euros. Thank you. It’s 2.8 million euros.”

“Hun, don’t get used to this situation.”

Grandpa opened his mouth quietly.

“People who visit places like this are different from ordinary people. They are people who spend money, that normal people can’t even get after giving all their blood and sweat.”

While grandpa was talking, Henry Marceau’s [Henry Marceau 760] got sold.

“It’s 3.2 million euros. [Henry Marceau 760] sold for 3.2 million euros.”

The auctioneer stamped the seal.

I was also impressed by the amount, but it was not as impressive as having 160,000 potato pizzas.

Grandpa continued to talk.

“This is an entertainment space for the rich. It’s a place that stimulates greed and trades paintings at ridiculous prices. There are also times when selling the work is not the only purpose.”

“So you shouldn’t get used to this place. Just because that painting was sold for 3.2 million euros, you shouldn’t think it’s worth is same to everyone.”

“Yes.”

“You can’t melt your ideas into a painting that satisfies only a group of people.”

What determines the price of a painting.?

I also felt it in my previous life.

There were many cases where a family works their entire lifetime to earn the money, which a famous painter gets with a single masterpiece work.

There were also cases a single painting’s worth is more that the money that an entire village had saved of decades.

I’m still not sure if it’s really that much desirable.

Comparing the joy of monopolizing [Henry Marceau 760] with the joy of eating 160,000 potato pizzas, I want to raise my hand to the latter.

However, people sitting at this auction, rather than buying 160,000 pizzas is interested more in buying a painting.

So, for the picture they want to buy, they are willing to pay 3.2 million euros just to satisfy the desire of having something that others don’t have.

Is the wealth gap still exists?

However,

What grandpa really wants to say is something else.

The fact that the painting should not be considered worth 3.2 million euros to everyone contains the view of the Art he pursues.

Grandpa doesn’t draw pictures for the people, who can afford millions of euros.

He hopes to impress everyone with his paintings, just like his potato pizza painting.

I think such an idea is the attitude that an Artist should pursue.

Like my grandpa said.

If I draw a work for a rich person, I will only draw a painting for that person.

There will be no Artist me in that painting?

When I think about it that way, Rembrandt, who died miserably, comes to my mind.

“The next work I’m going to introduce is Henry Marceau’s 766th self-portrait. Henry Marceau’s self-portrait, which was exhibited three years ago, will be auctioned today.”

Next was a sad self-portrait.

He only expressed his eyes and eyebrows to express himself, but both the top and bottom of the canvas were painted with Ultra Marine.

Who am I?

It reminds me of a question that everyone asks at least once in their lives.

When I look at his delicate eyelashes and translucent emerald eyes, I feel like I’m looking into him.

It induced Henry Marceau’s gaze to know him and the gaze of the person looking at the picture to be identified.

As expected, he is a genius.

Technically, it is more sophisticated than he is now.

It also complies with the ability to intuitively convey images and elicit empathy.

“It’s 4 million euros. I’m looking for 5 million euros. Do we have 5 million euros?

Those who visited the auction seem to have felt same thing in [Henry Marceau 766], just like me.

“It was sold for 4 million euros. Thank you.”

By the way, since 760 and 766 were submitted, all that was left was my painting, and I don’t think they’re going to sell [Marceau’s jewel] since the host said we’ll deal with three works today.

Did Henry Marceau did not fix [Marceau’s jewel]?

I think he ended up discarding the eyes I drew without even fixing them.

Or he might think that if he keep it as it is, he can sell it as his incomplete work.

While I was asking questions within me, the host began to speak.

“The next is the most notable work in today’s auction. It’s a color pencil drawing titled [Guest]. It’s the size of A3,”

The auction house fluttered when the employee peeled off the fabric.

“The Artist is Ko Hun, known for his [sunflower]. As it is known, he has recently emerged as the deity of the art world. He is also the grandson of the great Artist Ko Sooyeol. Early next year, he is preparing for his first individual exhibition at the age of 10. No one can deny that he is a promising genius.”

The host wrapped me up by mentioning my grandpa.

“The bidding starts at 10,000 euros. Do we have 10,000 euros?

It’s an amount enough for me, but not for the rich who came to buy my paintings.

Richard Phillips raised his hands.

“It’s 1 million euros. Thank you. I’m looking for 1.1 million euros. Do you have 1.1 million euros?”

The auctioneer’s voice, which was consistent with a polite tone, sounds a little excited.

An old lady lifted a sign.

“I received 1.1 million euros. Thank you. I’m looking for 1.2 million euros. 1.2 million euros.”

Richard Phillips lifted the sign once again.

What started at 10,000 euros rose to 1.2 million euros in less than 10 minutes.

I feel good because I wondered if they want my painting that much, but it was something that is still unclear.

Regardless of my heart, Richard Phillips and the old lady fought once more, and the price rose to 2 million euros, the same amount as [Sunflower].

“I got 2 million euros. Thank you. From now on, we will raise 200,000 euros each. Is there 2.2 million euros?”

The auctioneer drew attention to the old lady, who was competing with Richard Phillips.

She hesitated for a while and then raised the sign.

“Why they want it that much?”

I didn’t expect a day would come when I would be worried about my painting getting sold.

“They are looking at your future.”

“My future?”

“If you showed a great influence on the art world in the future, the price of the painting they bought today will jump several times. It’s an investment target for them.”

I found the reason.

Since they think that they can recover it later, they are paying the large amount of money, but I don’t really like it.

Competition has become more and more overheated, reaching 2.6 million euros.

Now Richard Phillips has bided, while old lady with the sign No. 58 was hesitant.

The auctioneer also did not increase the price further, perhaps noticing.

Richard Phillips opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind.

“3 million euros.”

The auction house became noisy.

Henry Marceau’s 760th self-portrait was sold for 3.2 million euros.

A similar amount for the painting of a 10-year-old boy.

Even I couldn’t help but be embarrassed.

“We have 3 million euros. Do we have more than 3 million euros?”