A portrait of a young pastry chef by Soutine led a modest Christie's sale of Impressionist and modern art on Wednesday evening. Bidders from the U.S. and Europe, and notably from India, China and Russia, brought the sale total to $158.5 million, in the mid-range of its estimated total.

Of 47 lots, just three failed to sell, and four were withdrawn prior to the sale.

Soutine’s “Le Petit Pâtissier,” from 1927, was the top lot. A lone bidder secured it with no competition for $18 million with fees, on the phone with Christie's Asian business development director.

Also of note, Chagall’s circus scene titled “Les Trois Acrobates,” from 1926, went for $13 million (including fees) with a trio of bidders vying for it.

The night before, Sotheby’s wrangled $230 million for 71 works, with 11 going unsold.

High expectations are pinned on the contemporary art sales next week.