The Week in Art

Art Basel Qatar, Dürer portrait debate, Paula Modersohn-Becker and Edvard Munch

6 snips
Feb 6, 2026
Alexander Morrison, digital editor and interviewer. Andreas Dehmer, co-curator at the Albertinum. Martin Bailey, London-based special correspondent. Kabir Jhala, art market editor reporting from Doha. They discuss Art Basel Qatar’s format and market impact. They debate an Albrecht Dürer portrait attribution in London. They explore a Dresden double bill pairing Paula Modersohn-Becker’s self-portrait with Edvard Munch’s Vampyr.
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INSIGHT

Host Nation Holds The Power

  • This edition is unusual because it's underwritten and directed by the Qatari state, giving the host nation decisive control.
  • Kabir Jhala highlights that partnership forces Art Basel to adapt rules and cede decision-making to Qatar.
ADVICE

Use Subsidies To Show Ambitious Work

  • Galleries receive subsidised logistics, travel and low stand fees, reducing financial risk to participate in Doha.
  • Kabir Jhala suggests galleries use this to present challenging, institutionally focused works rather than market-driven fare.
INSIGHT

Local Tastes Drove Auction Success

  • Sotheby's Saudi sale improved by focusing on Arab modernism, which resonated strongly with local buyers.
  • Kabir Jhala notes Western works performed weakly while Saudi and regional moderns outperformed estimates.
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