On March 31, 2011 Artfact.com partners with Tajan, one of France’s premier auction houses, to offer live online bidding on a dazzling selection of modern art.  Tajan’s "Art Moderne" sale features paintings and sculptures by greats such as Auguste Rodin, Marc Chagall, Raoul Dufy, Emile Bernard, Paul Signac, Pablo Picasso and more.  A painting by Russian artist Jean Pougny highlights the sale and is sure to wow bidders both locally and internationally via Artfact Live!  For additional information, or to bid live online from anywhere in the world on Artfact Live! please visit www.Artfact.com.

Highlighting the sale is a painting by Jean Pougny (1894-1956), titled “Whist”.  This rhythmic and lively painting employs a succession of warm and cool colors across an array of bold geometric forms.  The piece, which is signed by the artist , measures 28 3/8 x 25 3/16 inches.  Pougny, born Ivan Puni in Kuokkala, changed his name upon moving to France in 1923.  He studied in various ateliers including the Academie Julian in Paris, and taught at the Vitebsk Art School under Marc Chagall.  The painting, thought to have been completed between 1915 and 1916, is estimated at €350,000 - €600,000.

Also featured is a sculpture by Auguste Rodin (1840-1917).  The sculpture, an 1884 bronze cast with brown patina, is signed “A. Rodin” in the bronze base.  The piece is in the form of a kneeling faunesse, measuring 21 1/8 inches high.  A certificate from the Rodin Museum Committee is included.  The sculpture was originally cast in 1884, but was later incorporated in to the artist’s famous depiction of “The Gates of Hell”.  The form can be found on the frieze, just above the left-side panel on the artist’s world-renowned monumental sculpture.  The piece is estimated at €180,000 - €250,000.

A painting by Natalia Goncharova (1881-1962) is also included in the sale.  “The Scooter” is an oil on canvas signed by the artist and measuring 31 1/2 x 39 inches.  The work is credited as a spectacular example of the influences of Italian Futurism and French Cubism.  Goncharova began her education as a sculptor, but eventually adopted painting as a career and went on to design ballet costumes and sets for major theatrical productions.  This piece, a fine specimen from the artist’s extensive body of work, is estimated at €800,000 - €1,000,000.

The auction also features over 80 additional works of modern art from some of the period’s best-known figures.  A full-color catalog for the sale is available at www.Artfact.com.

In addition to this important fine art auction, Artfact Live! also offers live online bidding at premier auctions around the world.  Artfact Live! bidders benefit from an enhanced, easy-to-use bidding console; a comprehensive auction database; and a powerful search engine that allows bidders to search consignments by keyword, auction house, artist name and more.  To register to bid at this or any other Artfact Live! auction, please visit www.Artfact.com.

Artfact.com is the largest global marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles, and estate auctions.  In 2009, Artfact launched two live online bidding platforms, Artfact Live! and Invaluable Live! In the UK, allowing users to bid in real-time on auctions held around the world reaching a community of more than 10 million knowledgeable collectors and dealers worldwide. In 2010, Artfact merged with AuctionZip.com, increasing the reach of their platforms to include thousands of auction houses around the country.  Artfact's industry leading database includes more than 57 million complete auction results totaling more than $204 billion in value, including information on more than 500,000 international artists.