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A recent claim that an original Claude Monet painting was sold on Xiaohongshu, China’s Instagram-like platform, has ignited heated discussions among Chinese netizens.
The controversy began on December 9, when an account named “Gallery Boss’s Backyard Garden” shared a post claiming to have sold a 1908 Monet painting titled Nymphéas (Water Lilies) for a substantial amount. The post featured a close-up photo of the artwork, which measures 100cm x 100cm (39 inches x 39 inches), and highlighted its provenance, boasting seven previous owners and appearances in five exhibitions.
The gallery behind the account is Gao’s Gallery, based in Avignon, France. Specializing in the secondary art market, Gao’s Gallery deals in works by Western and Chinese modern masters. The gallery also operates branches in major Chinese cities, including Beijing, Hangzhou, and Taiyuan.
The Xiaohongshu post, written with a humorous tone, read, “Looks like no one on Xiaohongshu has ever sold a Monet Water Lilies before.” It quickly went viral, attracting over 20,000 comments. While some users treated the post as a playful stunt, others questioned the authenticity of the painting and the credibility of selling such a high-value artwork on a social media platform.
Despite the public interest, Gao Zhen-yu, the owner of Gao’s Gallery, has remained tight-lipped about the details of the purported sale. When asked for verification or further information, he declined to comment, fueling speculation and skepticism among art enthusiasts and internet users alike.
On December 18, Gao Zhen-yu confirmed in a follow-up post that the Monet painting had indeed been sold. However, he declined to disclose further details about the buyer or the transaction, stating, “The buyer prefers to remain anonymous, and I respect their privacy.”
Netizens flooded the comment section with a mix of humor and skepticism:
● “I can't even afford a poster of Water Lilies. Who is this mysterious millionaire buyer?”
● “Is this real, or is it just a brilliant marketing ploy to get everyone talking about the gallery?”
● “Selling Monet on Xiaohongshu? This is next-level internet luxury shopping!”
● “Without proof, this is just another tall tale for the internet. Show us the receipts!”
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