Investing in art

　　Monet1-maker

　　摇钱画(陈继龙 编译)

　　(译者按：Monet-maker可能谐形谐义自money-maker，后者指“会赚大笔大笔钱的人”或“赚钱的东西”又或“赚钱的生意”，而本文所分析的艺术品投资也正是指的是当前人们将印象派创始人Monet等名家的作品作为投资对象，以获取高额利润。)

　　Jun 1st 2006

　　From The Economist print edition

　　EVER since the 1870s, when a group of French landscape painters produced work d__________① unacceptable for the Paris Salon but went on to sell rather well, malnourished artists have comforted themselves with the thought that the market would one day put a proper value on their work. For many (mostly long-dead) artists, this finally appears to be happening. (1)Investors in financial assets may have had a jumpy few weeks, but salesrooms have notched up[1] record prices in May.

　　19世纪70年代，一群法国风景画家的作品被认为登不了巴黎画展的大雅之堂，可销路却一直很好。从那以后，“营养不良”的画家们就总是想“市场早晚会给他们的作品一个合适的估价”，聊以自慰。对于许多画家而言，最后好像确实梦想成真了(大多数是在去世多年以后)。过去几周，金融资产投资者们的日子也许过得心惊肉跳，可拍卖行却拍出了5月份的最高成交价。