Auction introduction: On 12 December, Christie’s will celebrate a major figure of the Parisian art scene with the auction of Vivre la couleur: hommage à Jean Fournier. This event will reflect on the profound legacy of a man who significantly impacted the history of painting. Jean Fournier dedicated his life to advocating for modernity and maintained a gallery that showcased some of the greatest artists of his time. After nearly 70 years, his gallery closed its doors this year. The auction at Christie’s features 35 works, focusing particularly on artists from the 1950s to the 1970s whom Fournier passionately supported, including Simon Hantaï, Sam Francis, Shirley Jaffe, Joan Mitchell, Jean Paul Riopelle, James Bishop and Claude Viallat.