Aimée Honig

What do you do at Bonhams?

I am Senior Specialist for Impressionist & Modern Art in Amsterdam, where I source works for the department’s global sales from The Netherlands, Belgium and Scandinavia. Previously, I was Head of Sale in the New York team, and Senior Specialist in London.

Where are you from and what inspired you to go into the art world? 

I was born and raised in The Netherlands, having lived most of my life in Amsterdam. My mum is a sculptor and from a young age, we would do all sorts of creative things after school—either sculpting, drawing or painting. She would teach me how to polish a sculpture or how to carve the first shapes in a block of stone. Later in life, I became interested in art history and decided to pursue a degree at the University of Amsterdam.

What was your first job? 

When I was a student, I interned in the Modern Art department at Christie’s in Amsterdam. I remember handling masterpieces by Kees van Dongen and James Ensor for the first time, I couldn’t believe that I could work so closely with these artworks. By handling pieces day in and day out, I quickly learned what’s good and bad, authentic and fake. It was here that my interest in the auction business began.

What has changed in the business since you first started?

The better question is what hasn’t changed! We have entered the digital era, which has been transformative for the auction world. For example, in 2023 we sold a beautiful still life by Giorgio Morandi to an online bidder for £2,902,750 inc. premium. When I started at Bonhams in 2017, that would’ve been unthinkable.

What is your strength as a specialist?

One of the things I enjoy most about this job is working with people, whether it’s meeting clients or working with colleagues. I can quickly adapt to new cultures and habits, which has been a great skill since I travel a lot for work and have held positions at Bonhams in the UK, US and now in Europe.

Do you have a hidden talent?

I’m passionate about recreating stories from the past. I'm good at understanding artworks within their zeitgeist and I like to draw comparisons with other works of art or artists. By connecting the dots, often new information comes to light which you can use to create compelling new narratives.

Name one of your triumphs.

Most of my triumphs lie within the field of Surrealism. In the past I was lucky to sell a collection of works by Max Ernst from the collection of the late Dorothea Tanning, and a beautiful painting by Leonora Carrington called Operation Wednesday, which sold for £682,750 inc. premium, more than double its pre-sale estimate.

My latest triumph is a small oil on copper titled Composition Surréaliste (tableau collaboratif), which was painted by Remedios Varo. The painting was presented to me as somewhat of a mystery painting, as it was not clear which elements were painted by which artists. After extensive research we discovered it was likely executed in collaboration with fellow artists Óscar Domínguez and Esteban Francés and that Composition Surréaliste (tableau collaboratif) is a loose interpretation of a Cadavre Exquis (or Exquisite Corpse). The work gives us a glimpse into the turbulent lives of the Surrealists. Varo, Domínguez and Francés were involved in a ménage à trois, and after studying the work we found small hallmarks of each artist. For example, the decapitated head in the painting is that of Varo's ex-husband.

We received a lot of interest from collectors for this idiosyncratic work, which led to competitive bidding during the auction, eventually exceeding its estimate by 353%.

Read more: A Closer Look | Composition surréaliste (tableau collaboratif)

Which work of art has changed your life?

In 2010, I went on a study trip to New York. It was right after the Donald Judd House opened in Soho and we were the first group ever to visit. Later that day, we were invited for a studio visit by Minimalist artist Stephen Antonakos and his wife, art critic Nancy Spector. Both homes were meticulously and sparsely designed. A white cube filled with geometric forms and shapes, with works by Judd, Flavin, LeWitt and many more. It felt like entering a tranquil oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Soho. It was very inspiring to see how this art came to life, and to meet pioneering figures from the movement.

What are buyers and sellers looking for in the Impressionist & Modern Art market right now?

Over the past few years, I have seen a demand for quality works by artists that have been historically undervalued or lesser known within the context of the established names. For example, the market for women artists has increased significantly in the last few years. Works by artists such as Leonora Carrington, Leonor Fini and Remedios Varo are very much sought after, and we have seen competitive bidding from buyers worldwide.

As we continue to look for new artistic contexts with a wider range of artists, we also see interest from sellers consigning artworks at the mid-upper market price (up to $5 million). Although less-known artists start at a lower price point, we still offer our sellers an Evening Sale-quality treatment, with a global network of clients and extensive marketing resources.

Aimée Honig is a Senior Specialist for Impressionist & Modern Art in Amsterdam. She can be reached at aimee.honig@bonhams.com

Stay updated with our auctions

Create an account with Bonhams to follow your favourite collecting categories and get email alerts when new auctions are open for bidding.

For the latest news and auction highlights, follow @bonhams_impressionists on Instagram