Van Gogh painting unseen for 60 years shown in Hong Kong

A Vincent van Gogh painting that Sotheby's says had not been seen in public for more than 60 years went on show in Hong Kong on Tuesday before a planned auction in New York.

“Chataigniers en fleurs”, or “Chestnut Trees in Blossom”, is expected by Sotheby's to fetch around $180 million when it is auctioned on November 18. Hundreds of people queued outside the Hong Kong gallery to see it.

The painting was one of 12 works owned by late Argentine collectors Nelly Arrieta de Blaquier and Carlos Pedro Blaquier. Works by Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Paul Cezanne from the same collection will also be auctioned.

Sotheby's vice chairman Scott Niichel said the Van Gogh work was one of the artist's last and most expressive paintings. Completed in 1890, it shows a blossoming chestnut tree, a solitary man and three women in Japanese attire.

The current auction record for a Van Gogh is $117.2 million, set by “Orchard with Cypresses” in 2022.