[AUTOGRAPHES] Alfred BASTIEN (1873-1955), BELGIAN PAINTER - Autograph letter signed to "Dear Mr. Feller". S.l., September 20, 1941. 1 p. and 6 l. on lined paper f. in-4°, in French, signed "Bastien". Creases due to mailing, a few minor stains and marginal wetness. He humorously recalls his stay in North Africa (1897): "[...] Ben Saâda - which means Place of Happiness in Arabic - often comes back in my career as an enchanting memory. In fact, I painted this sacred patache that brought the mail from Europe every morning [...]. The horses caught more blows than oats...". He would like to see again the reproduction of the portrait he painted in 1905 of Fatma bent Omar, an Arab dancer "who was later murdered by a bandit who cut off her head". He prepares an exhibition of 50 paintings "to be shown at Brachot".

Composed of several subsidiaries, the Drouot Group is a major player in the art market. Hôtel Drouot, located in the heart of Paris, has been the world's largest public auction center since 1852. 15 salerooms are available to more than 70 auction houses. The emulation generated by an annual offer of 230,000 artworks from 21 major specialities - from Antiquity to street art - attracts some 3,000 visitors every day. The Group's digital platform, Drouot.com, offers digital sales - Live auctions (live broadcasting and participation in auctions), Online-only auctions (dematerialised auctions) and Buy Now sales (sales of lots at fixed prices). Nearly 2 million items are offered annually by 600 auction houses. Auction news is reported every week in La Gazette Drouot, the leading weekly magazine for the art market and culture published by Auctionspress.