Hong Kong crowds flock to view Van Gogh masterpiece ahead of auction

Visitors formed lengthy queues in Hong Kong to catch a glimpse of Châtaigniers en fleurs, a Van Gogh oil painting that has remained largely out of public view for 60 years. The exhibition drew considerable interest from art enthusiasts and collectors keen to experience the work before its scheduled auction.

The painting, known in English as Chestnut Trees in Blossom, belongs to a series created during the Dutch master's prolific period. Its reappearance marks a significant moment for the art market and Van Gogh scholars who track the movement and provenance of the artist's works.

Auctioneers have forecast that the piece will attract substantial bids when it goes under the hammer this weekend. The level of public interest demonstrated by the Hong Kong crowds underscores the enduring appeal of Van Gogh's work and the broader appetite for post-Impressionist masterpieces in the Asia-Pacific region.

The painting's return to public consciousness comes amid continued strong demand for major European artworks at auction houses across Asia, reflecting the region's growing influence in the global art market.