Monet, Renoir and Dali are among the artists who have weathered the recession well, according to the Wall Street Journal. New buyers, such as China's emerging wealthy elite, are stepping up to buy pretty pictures by the big names of Impressionism and early Modernists.

"Before the crisis, people were buying everything," modern art dealer David Nahmad told reporter Kelly Crow. "Now, they're more selective."

Click to read more about who's up and who's down.