VENDREDI 13 NOVEMBRE 2026 
With a keen interest in bringing both the historical avant-gardes and contemporary art to a wider audience, Christophe Szwiklitzer extended his activities as an art dealer into the world of publishing. Like Vollard and Kahnweiler, he saw publishing as a natural extension of gallery life and another way of supporting and promoting artists. Among his publications was a book by Max Jacob, illustrated by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), featuring the print offered here: La Table, 1910, a black engraving, second plate.
The sale also features a fine selection of works on paper. Highlights include an ink drawing by Kees van Dongen, Le Bal(estimate: €3,000–5,000), and a colour linocut by Pablo Picasso, created for the 1960 exhibition in Vallauris (estimate: €2,000–3,000).
Two sculptures by César are among the standout works in the sale: Dardignan or Moteur, a unique piece assembled from welded fragments of reclaimed iron (estimate: €15,000–20,000), and Petit Valentin, a polished bronze cast based on an original welded-iron sculpture (estimate: €10,000–15,000). The jewellery selection is equally distinctive, combining striking forms with beautifully executed finishes. Notable pieces include Arman's Violon brooch in yellow gold (estimate: €3,000–5,000) and a Suprematist-inspired brooch in yellow gold by Nadia Léger (estimate: €5,000–8,000).
Among the highlights of the sale is a rare autograph letter from Paul Gauguin to his friend, the painter Émile Schuffenecker, offering a glimpse into the relationship between these two major artists of the late nineteenth century. The letter takes us back to 1889, behind the scenes of the Volpini exhibition, and reveals Gauguin’s involvement in its organisation. Despite its commercial failure, the exhibition has since become an important landmark in the history of modern art and the recognition of the Synthetist movement. This remarkable historical document is estimated at €20,000–30,000.
Art to Share: The Christophe Szwiklitzer Collection
O n Friday, 13 November 2026, Crait+Müller will present its second auction dedicated to the Christophe Szwiklitzer Collection at Hôtel Drouot. Entitled “Art to Share”, the sale brings together paintings, sculptures, drawings, lithographs and prints, reflecting the curiosity, discerning eye and sensitivity of this passionate collector.This historic collection features numerous works by iconic artists, including Picasso, de Chirico, Zadkine, Nadia and Fernand Léger, and Marcel Duchamp, some of the most celebrated names in twentieth-century art.
The Christophe Szwiklitzer Collection is the story of a lifelong passion for art, shaped by encounters, discoveries and a keen aesthetic eye. Raised in a modest family, he entered the art world in the 1950s, drawn to the creative energy of his time. Journalist, art dealer and discerning expert in modern art, he dedicated his life to championing the artists whose works now form this remarkable collection.
With a keen interest in bringing both the historical avant-gardes and contemporary art to a wider audience, Christophe Szwiklitzer extended his activities as an art dealer into the world of publishing. Like Vollard and Kahnweiler, he saw publishing as a natural extension of gallery life and another way of supporting and promoting artists. Among his publications was a book by Max Jacob, illustrated by Pablo Picasso (1881–1973), featuring the print offered here: La Table, 1910, a black engraving, second plate.
The sale also features a fine selection of works on paper. Highlights include an ink drawing by Kees van Dongen, Le Bal(estimate: €3,000–5,000), and a colour linocut by Pablo Picasso, created for the 1960 exhibition in Vallauris (estimate: €2,000–3,000).
Two sculptures by César are among the standout works in the sale: Dardignan or Moteur, a unique piece assembled from welded fragments of reclaimed iron (estimate: €15,000–20,000), and Petit Valentin, a polished bronze cast based on an original welded-iron sculpture (estimate: €10,000–15,000). The jewellery selection is equally distinctive, combining striking forms with beautifully executed finishes. Notable pieces include Arman's Violon brooch in yellow gold (estimate: €3,000–5,000) and a Suprematist-inspired brooch in yellow gold by Nadia Léger (estimate: €5,000–8,000).
Among the highlights of the sale is a rare autograph letter from Paul Gauguin to his friend, the painter Émile Schuffenecker, offering a glimpse into the relationship between these two major artists of the late nineteenth century. The letter takes us back to 1889, behind the scenes of the Volpini exhibition, and reveals Gauguin’s involvement in its organisation. Despite its commercial failure, the exhibition has since become an important landmark in the history of modern art and the recognition of the Synthetist movement. This remarkable historical document is estimated at €20,000–30,000.
