• A previously unknown painting by Renoir sold for €1.8 million in Paris.
• The artwork depicts the artist's son, Jean, with his nanny and was painted between 1890 and 1895.
• The painting was valued at €1-1.5 million before the auction.
• This marks a significant moment in the resurgence of the high-end art market.
• Jean Renoir, the subject of the painting, became an Oscar-winning filmmaker.

A previously unknown work by French impressionist painter Auguste Renoir of his toddler son Jean sold for €1.8 million at a Paris auction held by Drouot. The painting, titled "L'enfant et ses jouets - Gabrielle et le fils de l'artiste, Jean", had never been exhibited or sold before, and belonged to Jean's godmother, Jeanne Baudot, who was a friend and student of Renoir's, according to Le Monde and Reuters.

The oil painting features the artist's second son, Jean, who was born in 1894 and later became an Oscar-winning filmmaker, shown sitting with his nanny. Art historian Pascal Perrin praised the painting's "exceptional condition," highlighting that it has undergone no restoration, according to CBS News and Le Monde.

Initially valued at €1-1.5 million, the painting was sold to an "international buyer," signifying strong interest in the high-end art market, which has seen a revival despite recent downturns. The auction has drawn comparisons to recent record-breaking sales, including a self-portrait by Frida Kahlo that sold for $54.66 million, according to Reuters and CBS News.