Modern Day Auction Could Realize $42.03m

3 min read · 28 Apr 2026

Buste d’homme barbu by Pablo Picasso estimated at $2m (low) to $3m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Poids montés by Wassily Kandinsky estimated at $1.5m (low) to $2m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Monhegan Lighthouse by Edward Hopper estimated at $1.2m (low) to $1.8m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Pink Meadow by Milton Avery estimated at $800,000 (low) to $1.2m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Le Compotier by Rene Magritte estimated at $800,000 (low) to $1.2m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Buste d’homme barbu by Pablo Picasso estimated at $2m (low) to $3m (high). Image courtesy of Sotheby's

Pablo Picasso Buste d’homme barbu (1965) is the highest-value lot announced by Sotheby's in its 'Modern Day Auction' in New York on May 20.

Pre-sale low estimates total $42.03m.

Preview snapshot

245 works are for sale.
Estimates total: $42.03m (low) and $62.2m (high), excluding premiums.
0 lots have undisclosed estimates.

The highest-value lot announced is: Pablo Picasso, Buste d’homme barbu (1965), which is estimated to sell for between $2m and $3m. It has been traded 7 times in the past.

Guaranteed lots

28 works are backed by guarantees, including: Joan Miro, Sans titre (1939). It is estimated to sell for between $800,000 and $1.2m. It has been traded 6 times in the past.

Terms and definitions

Guarantees: Sometimes an auction house guarantees to pay a seller for a work, regardless of whether the bidding reaches the reserve price, a figure that is typically confidential.

All figures are accurate at time of publication.

Market

Exclusives

Pablo Picasso

Joan Miro

New York

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