Two paintings by Claude Monet, hidden from public view for over a century, have resurfaced and been sold at Sotheby’s Paris. The works—*Les Îles de Port-Villez* (1883) and *Vétheuil, effet du matin* (1901)—represent distinct phases of Monet’s career, with the latter setting a record for a Monet sold at auction in France, fetching more than $12 million.
The reappearance of these long-unseen works matters because major Monet paintings rarely reenter the market, most being held in museum or well-documented collections. Their sale underscores Monet’s enduring influence on the global art market and highlights the potential for rediscovery even within well-studied artistic legacies, offering new material for scholars and collectors alike.