Portrait of Brigitte Bardot painted by Kees van Dongen sold for 1.35 million euros

A portrait of French actress Brigitte Bardot by Kees van Dongen was sold for €1.35 million at a Paris auction. The painting, created in 1959, depicts Bardot shortly after her rise to fame. It was part of a modern and contemporary art auction that raised a total of €20.9 million. Other notable sales included works by Gauguin and Basquiat. Bardot, a cultural icon and animal rights advocate, passed away in December 2025 at the age of 91.