How Much Is Concarneau. Pêche à la sardine (Sardine Fishing) Worth?

Paul Signac is a central figure in Neo‑Impressionism; works from his 1891 Concarneau series belong to a mature, highly collectible phase of his career. This painting’s subject—sardine fishing in a Breton harbour—connects it to a recurrent and well‑studied theme in Signac’s oeuvre that has strong curatorial interest. That the canvas is dated 1891 (a pivotal year in his development of pointillist technique) increases its scholarly relevance. High art‑historical significance elevates institutional interest and can materially increase buyer competition and price, provided the work is authenticated, in good condition, and published in the literature.

The recorded provenance (acquired from Signac by Alexandre Halot, remaining in the Halot family, subsequently in the John Hay Whitney collection and bequeathed to MoMA) is exceptionally strong and desirable to collectors. Institutional ownership by MoMA confers an extra layer of scholarly validation and long‑term visibility; however, museum ownership also means the work is not tradable without deaccession, so market liquidity is nil unless the institution decides otherwise. Provenance of this quality typically increases market value substantially if the work is offered.

The painting’s medium (oil on canvas) and medium dimensions (c. 65 × 81 cm / 25 5/8 × 31 7/8 in) place it in the mid‑sized category for Signac seascapes. Condition history (original canvas, presence/absence of relining, inpainting, craquelure, varnish discoloration) will materially affect value; major conservation interventions can lower competitive bids, while excellent original surface and color can raise buyer confidence. MoMA stewardship suggests proper conservation, but a formal condition report is required to lock down a market figure precisely.

Inclusion in exhibition catalogues and photographic or catalogue‑raisonné illustration strongly increases market value by improving attribution certainty and collector awareness. A painting in MoMA's collection has a higher probability of being published or loaned, but specific citations (catalogue‑raisonné opus confirmation, illustrated exhibition catalogues) should be verified. Absence of such documentation would reduce its competitive edge relative to similarly composed works with robust bibliographic records.

Recent high‑profile Signac results set the market framework: a Concarneau canvas sold for US$39.32M (Christie’s, 2022) establishes the ceiling for the series, while other mature seascapes have realized c. US$9–10M at major houses (Christie’s 2023; Sotheby’s 2024). These comparables indicate a strong top‑end for museum‑quality Signacs and a common transactional band below the record; the painting’s realized price would depend on where it sits relative to those exemplars in scale, condition, and documentation.