Chapter 26 I The Anarchists on Montmartre (II) The Dissolution of the Bearskin Association

We'll all be back on Rue La Vignan! . . . only being there makes us happy. Pablo Picasso On Monday, March 2, 1914, they were in halls 6 and 7 of the Hotel du Haut in Paris.There were journalists, art dealers from Germany, socialites, curious bystanders and enlightened painting amateurs, such as the Socialist MP for Paris, Marcel Sombart. Among the crowd, one recognizes the assembled Picasso Guard: Max Jacobs, Carnville, Serge Ferrat and the Baroness Audangan. The founders of the "Bearskin" association, Druet and the Bernheim brothers, were seated in the first row, and the auction appraiser Henry Boduan and his two assistants sat behind them.They are all waiting for the auction ceremony to start.Their association, Bearskin, is disbanding today after 10 years.They decided to sell all the paintings they had acquired.Since 1904, members of the association have paid 250 francs per year as a collective fund.They distributed the paintings purchased with the collective fund to each of them according to pre-determined principles.Today, in addition to recovering all the money they have paid for many years, they also receive interest, with a minimum interest rate of 3.5%.Association president André Le Vere will receive 20 percent of the remaining amount as an honorarium for his work.The painters split the remainder of the fund.The purpose of establishing the association was not speculation, but to promote modern art and help poor painters live.The foreword to the auction brochure reads:

Friends joined forces ten years ago to collect paintings and more importantly to decorate the walls of their residence.Because the work of the past is almost impossible to find, it has convinced many - mostly young people with boundless hopes for the future - that these budding young artists deserve to be trusted.They feel honored to take risks in pursuit of something new... What works did these generous people buy?They bought a total of 150 pieces, including works by the following famous painters: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Odilon Redon, Vuillard, Maurice Denis, Bonnard, Valadon, Signac, Serusier, Maillol; also Dufy, Van Dongen, Erbain, Dufnoy, Flandin, Roger de Lafrenaye, Othon Frieze, Marl Kay, Mei Jingqi, Rouault, Segonzac, Velloon, Vlaminck, Derain, Matisse, Villette and Picasso.Almost all of the works they bought were works of Classicism, Fauvism and the long-awaited Cubism.For although some of these works are less geometric than those that have caused a stir elsewhere, this is, after all, their first foray into the national market.Everyone is well aware that the Bearskin Society auction is a decisive test of modern art.

Henri Bodouin set an opening price of 720 francs for the first painting.This is Bonnard's Fishing Tank, which the brochure describes as "an inquiry into fish and crustaceans". Flemish's "Boukivar Lock" was worse than the previous one, and finally sold for 170 francs. Dufy's "Boulevard de la Croisette" started at 100 francs and sold for 160 francs. 100 francs failed to win a three-dimensional landscape painting by Mei Jingqi.Roger de Lafrenaye's three-dimensional painting "Angel Still Life" soared to 300 francs.De Lang's "Stone Clay Pot" was sold for 300 francs, "Fishing in a Plate" was sold for 115 francs, and "Bedroom" was sold for 210 francs.

The works of Marie Laurence sold for 475 francs, which was better than all the above.It was a victory for the perseverance of her former lover, Apollinaire who still works as a journalist.However, Dinoyer de Segonzac's Pond, which started at 300 francs, fetched 800 francs, much more than hers. Gauguin's "Cellist" sold for 4,000 francs, the same as Van Gogh's "Flowers in a Cup".Matisse's "Women's Studies" and "Corsican Riviera" sold for 900 francs, while "Green Shade by the Water" exceeded 2,000 francs. "Apple Orange Goblet" has been soaring until it sold for 5,000 francs, which is higher than Van Gogh's works.

There was thunderous applause throughout the hall. However, Picasso, as usual, was still absent this time.At no time did he appear among the chaotic crowd.André Le Vere's friends bought works that were much older than Picasso's latest three-dimensional works, but why not?Compared with the works of the blue period and the red period, people pay more attention to the painter himself, his innovative spirit and the works created under the guidance of this spirit.After a long period of incognito creation, "Laundry Boat" also appeared in the auction hall today.Mr. Boduan recommended to those present the sketch of "Women and Children" drawn by Picasso on cardboard.He is unconsciously, in his own way, ending the Montmartre era that has been waiting for the glory to come.

Although this is only a cardboard sketch, the honor is there, and its price is still as high as 1,100 francs. "The Man with the Long Sleeves" sold for 1,350 francs. People in the hall are talking about it: it is higher than Matisse's works.At this time, the staff of the auction conference put an extra large oil painting on the rostrum: "Family Street Performing Arts" (1905) (Figure 44), starting at 8,000 francs (Andre Lewell bought this painting for only paid 1000 francs).The auction has started.Prices are going up, there's excitement, there's outrage, and critics are ready to write news stories.Cubism's apologists are gearing up.When the appraiser's copper hammer fell, the bidding price was 11,000 francs.It was the highest-selling piece that day.

The audience stood up and there was thunderous applause.Many people started to evacuate.Not a small number of gossip kings walked out, discussing one after another, saying that the one who bought "The Man in the Long-Sleeved Long Shirt" and "Family Street Busker" was a German businessman named Justin Don Ause.A full five months from now, people may be able to see some signs, but for now, curious people better relax their nerves first. At the auction site, another German, Danielle-Henri Carnville, used all his strength to get out of the auction hall, pushing the people around him vigorously with both arms.He rushed out of the auction hall in a hurry to report the news to Picasso.Carnville made a profit of 150,000 francs from this auction.Picasso himself deserved a quarter of this turnover.

Carnville, who finally squeezed out of the auction hall, hurried towards a carriage.Because Picasso wasn't there, he didn't come as usual, he was elsewhere. On such a glorious day, where is he not at the auction site? He is not on the Avenue de Crissy, nor is he in Montmartre.Caesar had his own way, and he had crossed the Rubicon, the river that separates Gaul from Italy. : And Picasso has already crossed the Seine.Henceforth, he will join the social circle of the upper class.The electric lights there will forever separate him from the Montmartre candles. Picasso permanently left the soil where his art was born, and he never returned to the "laundry boat".He has since settled in Montparnasse on the left bank of the Seine.