Rating and value of works, drawings and sculptures by Jules Pascin

Bulgarian-born painter and draughtsman Jules Pascin (1885-1930), a member of the Paris School, is known for his erotic drawings of Parisian nightlife.

If you own a work by or based on the artist Jules Pascin and would like to know its value, our state-approved experts and auctioneers can help you.

Our specialists will carry out a free appraisal of your work, and provide you with a precise estimate of its current market value.

Then, if you want to sell your work, we'll point you in the right direction to get the best possible price for it.

Artist's rating and value

Thanks to his prolific artistic output, Jules Pascin is a common sight in auction rooms. A renowned expressionist artist of the École de Paris, his works sell for significant sums on the auction market.

Today, the prices at which his works sell on the auction market range from €20 to €407,400, a considerable delta but one that speaks volumes about the value that can be attributed to Jules Pascin's works.

Sought-after by collectors, works by Jules Pascin can fetch hundreds of thousands of euros at auction, as demonstrated by his oil on canvas La petite actrice, which sold for over €400,000 at Sotheby's in 1990.

Order of value from the most basic to the most prestigious

Style and technique of the artist Jules Pascin

First a painter, then a draughtsman, Jules Pascin offered a varied palette of works. Pascin's paintings are present in museums, but rare in auction rooms.

His iconic portraits, often imbued with a gentle melancholy, feature delicate figures with expressive features and eyes charged with humanity.

These works are highly sought-after, and can fetch tens of thousands of euros at auction for drawings, while his oils on canvas can top the million euro mark.

Just as rare as his paintings, Pascin's illustrations are also highly prized. The artist explored a variety of techniques, including charcoal, watercolor and etching.

His works on paper are often multi-faceted, but those in more complex media, such as copperplate engraving, are considered exceptional. Their price can easily exceed one million euros, testifying to the sustained interest of collectors in this uniquely sensitive artist.

Pascin, one of the most highly regarded artists of the École de Paris

Of Bulgarian origin, Jules Pascin was born into a Jewish family in Varna in 1885. From an early age, he revealed a sensitive temperament, shaped by a childhood of travel and a move to Paris, where he immersed himself in the bohemian life of the capital.

His mother, who encouraged his passion for drawing, played an essential role in his artistic development, supporting his ambitions from an early age.

Legend has it that Pascin discovered his artistic vocation in a moment of deep introspection, as he navigated between melancholy and dreams of grandeur. He began by drawing portraits, a genre that was to occupy a central place in his work, both in painting and engraving.

As a teenager, he took drawing classes at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, defying family expectations that he should choose a more conventional path.

He quickly distinguished himself among his peers, absorbing the influences of the artists around him. His encounters with emblematic figures of the time, such as Impressionist painter Édouard Vuillard and sculptor Henri Matisse, nurtured his style.

Pascin immersed himself in the nuances of Parisian life, while retaining a fascination for the human body, which he explored with particular delicacy and sensuality.

His training was marked by an intense life, often associated with Parisian bohemia, where he made friends with artists from all horizons, from Expressionism to Surrealism. The discovery of cafés and cabarets, meeting places of the art scene, became a second school for him.

His works, imbued with nostalgia and poetry, reveal his penchant for depicting women and scenes of daily life, cultivating an inimitable style that enabled him to make a name for himself in the École de Paris.

In his creations, Pascin skilfully blends the heritage of his roots with contemporary influences, while maintaining a critical eye on society. His artistic trajectory, punctuated by experimentation, left its mark on the history of art and placed him among the most prominent figures of his time.

Jules Pascin's portrait of Hermine David (1907)

Jules Pascin's portrait of Hermine David, painted in 1907, was part of a period in which the artist revealed his mastery of portraiture within the École de Paris.

Of Bulgarian origin, Pascin captures in this work the essence of his model, an emblematic figure in the artistic life of the time.

Hermine David, a painter herself and muse to many creators, is depicted with a delicacy that reveals both her beauty and her psychological depth. The choice of soft, nuanced colors creates an intimate atmosphere that invites introspection.

The treatment of light in this portrait testifies to Pascin's skill in playing with shadows to accentuate his subject's features. The brushstrokes, both light and expressive, breathe dynamism into the work, transforming the simple portrait into an exploration of emotions.

The artist manages to capture not only Hermine's appearance, but also her aura, making the viewer an accomplice in this visual encounter.

Beyond simple representation, this painting illustrates the relationship between artist and model, an interaction marked by complicity and admiration. Hermine David becomes more than a subject; she embodies an inspiring muse, a figure who crystallizes the spirit of the avant-garde at the time.

The influence of Impressionism is palpable in the choice of colors and the light that dances on Hermine's face. This approach is the result of a dialogue between Pascin and his contemporaries, notably artists such as Édouard Manet and Henri Matisse, whose research into color and form had a profound influence on modern art.

The portrait of Hermine David thus stands out as a major work in Pascin's career. It evokes both the beauty of the modern woman and the quest for authenticity in art. Painting becomes a means of expressing not only outward appearance, but also the complexities of female identity.

Today, this portrait remains a poignant testimony to Pascin's artistic universe, where sensitivity and expressivity meet to give life to emblematic figures.

With this work, Jules Pascin confirms his status as one of the leading artists of his time, and Hermine David becomes a timeless muse, always captivating the attention of art lovers.

Pascin by Joann Sfar

Jules Pascin's imprint on modern art

Jules Pascin's influence on modern art is a poignant testimony to Parisian bohemian life at the beginning of the 20th century. Of Bulgarian origin, Pascin was born in Vidin in 1885 and moved to Paris in 1904, attracted by the creative abundance of the French capital.

He frequented the artistic circles of Montparnasse, where he rubbed shoulders with such emblematic figures asAmedeo Modigliani and Chaïm Soutine.

His work is characterized by an airy lightness, where the intimacy of portraits and scenes of daily life is accentuated by fluid, expressive brushstrokes.

Pascin excelled in the representation of femininity, approaching his models with a rare sensitivity, translating complex emotions through delicate expressions. His style, at once romantic and realistic, places him as a pivotal figure between Post-Impressionism and Expressionism.

Themes of loneliness and melancholy are recurrent in his work, lending it an emotional depth that resonates with his own personal journey, marked by struggles with depression.

His works, imbued with a melancholy atmosphere, reveal a fascination with nightlife and the stories of those around him, from artists to cabaret models.

Pascin's impact transcended his era, inspiring contemporary artists who saw him as a precursor in the expression of human emotions through portraiture.

Artists like Pierre Ambogriani, Charles Atamian and Raymond Guerrier draw inspiration from his approach to infuse their own vision with a touch of intimacy and vulnerability.

Today, Jules Pascin is celebrated as a master of subtle expression and intimate representation. His legacy endures, and his work continues to evoke deep emotions, captivating the attention of art lovers around the world.

His signature

Not all Jules Pascin's works are signed.

Although there are variations, here's a first example of his signature:

Our team will be happy to help you identify your artwork.

Appraising your property 

If you own a work by Jules Pascin, don't hesitate to request a free appraisal by filling in our online form. A member of our team of experts and certified auctioneers will contact you to provide an estimate of the market value of your Jules Pascin work. 

If you're thinking of selling your work, our specialists will also guide you through the various alternatives available to obtain the best possible price, taking into account market trends and the specific features of each item.