In the late 19th century, Impressionistpainters challenged the status quo by creating pieces void of historical significance or realism, emphasizing that art need not be practical.
Mr. Ching said Sotheby's gallery will aim to educate Chinese buyers on Western art by first introducing them to Asian artists who already enjoy an international following, like Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, as well as 19th-century French painters such as Claude Monet, whose Impressionist landscapes are immediately recognizable to collectors everywhere, Mr. Ching said.