After handing the note to the female clerk, Zhang Junping continued to take everyone to visit galleries, art stores, and major luxury stores.
At noon, Zhang Junping took them to an Italian restaurant again.
This Italian restaurant also has three Michelin stars.
“Michelin, a company that produces tires, created an art guide and it actually became a benchmark in the food industry.
Mr. Lu, Mr. Lou, I think you should study the secret of his success." After ordering, Zhang Junping said to Lu Zhaode and Lou Xinying with a smile.
"Manager, we have a lot of feelings this morning. We will study and summarize it later." Lu Zhaode said with a smile.
"Research it carefully!
However, what we are going to study now is Italian food.
Italian food is known as the ancestor of Western food.
It is said that the delicacies of these Western countries all originate from Italy." When the first dish was served, Zhang Junping said with a smile.
The first dish Zhang Junping ordered was spaghetti with soup.
Pasta is a signature dish of Italian cuisine.
There are hundreds of different ways to make just one pasta dish.
The soup pasta ordered by Zhang Junping is one of them.
There are also sauce pasta, seafood braised noodles, egg noodles, etc.
The biggest feeling given to Zhang Junping by pasta is its smooth and chewy texture.
The taste is very good.
The second dish Zhang Junping ordered was steak.
In addition to these two items, Zhang Junping also ordered pizza, desserts, and various seafood dishes.
Everyone had a great time eating, but they were still a little uncomfortable using knives and forks.
After dinner, I drank a cup of coffee and continued shopping.
Until the evening, everyone found a French restaurant and enjoyed delicious food before returning to the hotel.
France is no less than Italy in terms of food.
In fact, Zhang Junping feels that whether it is Italian food or French food, their delicious food comes more from the ingredients.
Good ingredients, only the simplest cooking method is required.
When he returned to the hotel, someone was already waiting for him.
"Hello, sir, I am George Fairburn Stuart. It is an honor to meet you." A middle-aged white man knocked on Zhang Junping's door and introduced himself as a gentleman.
"Hello! I'm Zhang Junping! Please come in and talk!" Zhang Junping smiled and let the other person into the room.
"Mr. Zhang, I received this note and knew that he wanted to see me, so I came." George Fairburn took out Zhang Junping's piece of paper and put it on the table.
"Mr. Stuart, I am the author of the counterfeit." Zhang Junping did not go around the bush and directly stated his identity.
"Are you the author of a counterfeit? What's the proof?" Although he had already guessed, after hearing Zhang Junping's words, George Fairburn was still shocked and asked hurriedly.
"Wait a minute!" Zhang Junping said with a smile, then got up and went into the back room, took out a suitcase, opened the suitcase, and took out several unframed oil paintings from inside.
Zhang Junping put the oil painting on the coffee table and motioned to George Fairborn to open it and take a look.
George Fairburn nodded to his men.
A bald, middle-aged white man in his forties and wearing glasses took a step forward, put on gloves, and gently opened the oil painting.
After the balding middle-aged white man opened an oil painting, he was a little disappointed when he took a quick look at it.
This is not a work by a known famous artist, but a very unfamiliar painting.
However, out of an attitude of being responsible to his boss, the bald middle-aged man still made a conscious decision.
After a while, the bald middle-aged man re-rolled the oil painting, put it aside, and then picked up another painting.
The appraisal of each piece was very slow at first, and then gradually became faster.
"Boss, the quality of these paintings is great, comparable to the works of Picasso and Rubens at their peak.
It’s just that there are no imitation marks on it.” After the bald middle-aged white man made the identification, he reported the truth.
"Mr. Zhang, I believe these paintings are your works, but this does not prove that you are imitators.
You should understand that whether it is before, now or in the future, the value of an oil painting is not just its painting level.
But fame!
To put it bluntly, only when someone praises him can a painter become famous and his works valuable." George Fairburn took out a cigar in his spare time, gave it to Zhang Junping, and then lit it on his own.
"Mr. Stuart was very straightforward and honest.
Speaking of which, the more than 300 oil paintings before were just my game works.
I sold those oil paintings to you just to trick you and make my thoughts clearer." Zhang Junping lit a cigarette and said with a smile.
"As for why I tricked you, I am a Chinese. After visiting the Louvre and the Olympiad, it is not difficult to understand why I want to trick you." Zhang Junping said it very calmly, and said that everyone who tricked him was fair and honest.
came out.
"I can understand, but I'm not happy." George Fairburn said coldly.
"I can understand! Anyone else would be unhappy if they were cheated.
This has nothing to do with whether you lose money or not." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"You're right! It's not a matter of losing money or not, it's just that I don't like the feeling of being cheated." George Fairburn laughed.
"I know, so I came here this time to inspect and study in your country on behalf of the Chinese Art Company.
By the way, I would like to have some exchanges with artists from your country.
As for the imitation, what does it have to do with me?" Zhang Junping said with a calm smile.
"But you still left me a note." George Fairburn said with a faint smile.
"Because I found that you are a very interesting person and should be a good partner." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"Oh?" George Fairburn sat up straight and looked at Zhang Junping.
"I am the manager of a Chinese art company. The purpose of coming to Paris is very simple, which is to develop the Paris art market.
If you want to open up the market, finding a local to cooperate is the fastest and most convenient way." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"So, why should I cooperate with you?
The market in Paris is so big, why should I give it to you?" George Fairburn stared at Zhang Junping and asked.
"Because I'm an ordinary person!" Zhang Junping said confidently.
"In order to avoid losing money, you have promoted the reputation of counterfeit products.
A miraculous painter whose painting skills are no less than those of Rubens and Leonardo da Vinci, who can perfectly imitate the works of many famous artists.
I believe you don't just want to make money this time." Zhang Junping said with a confident smile.
These French art dealers are more ruthless than him. The oil painting he sold to them for 10 million French francs was fetched at an auction house for a high price of 120 million French francs after being hyped by them.
At an auction for a bald eagle, a super high price of US$60 million was sold.
You know, in this era, those big capitalists have not stopped speculating on art.
Xiaobenzi has not yet signed the Plaza Accord and has not started buying and buying around the world.
The price of oil paintings is not as outrageous as it was in later generations.
The price of 60 million US dollars has exceeded the price of many top oil paintings.
Of course, these data are all hyped by people like George Fairburn.
It's the so-called left hand and right hand.
However, the popularity of counterfeit products has really aroused.
The real transaction price should be no less than 30 million French francs.
"Mr. Zhang, this is France!" George Fairburn chuckled.
"I know!
This is France, a country that values law and order.
China is not the Qing government of a hundred years ago. In the past few decades, countries all over the world should have realized that a different China has stood up.
I know better that Mr. Stuart is a successful businessman." Faced with George Fairburn's threat, Zhang Junping shrugged and said with a smile.
"What can I get?" George Fairburn thought about it and asked with a smile.
Zhang Junping is right in saying that he is a successful businessman.
Successful businessmen only consider maximizing profits.
Unless there is a serious threat to their own interests and there is an irreconcilable conflict, successful businessmen will never choose to use knives to rob or kill.
"Fake imitations, one imitation every year. In the future, there will be no imitations anywhere else except you.
Even in the stores of Chinese art companies, there will be no imitation works." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"One piece is not enough, at least twelve copies a year are enough." George Fairburn laughed, it is easier to talk to smart people.
"Impossible Mr. Stuart, imitation is more troublesome than originality.
I can only guarantee two works a year at most." Zhang Junping shook his head and said firmly.
"Two pieces are too few. You must know that it is not up to me alone to decide whether a Chinese art company wants to enter the Champs Elysées.
I still need to convince other people, all at least ten."
The Champs Elysées is the most famous commercial street in France and even Europe. It is not an easy task to open a store here.
The Champs Elysées has a management committee, which is composed of established merchants on the Champs Elysées.
If you want to enter the Champs Elysées, you need their permission.
Otherwise, you won't be able to rent a store to open a store, and you will have all kinds of troubles if you do.
In short, if you don't get the approval of the management committee, you can't safely open a store on the Champs Elysées.
This is one of the reasons why Zhang Junping contacted George Fairburn.
"I can only give you four works at most.
However, you have to help me open two stores, a gallery and a traditional Chinese art store on the Champs Elysées." Zhang Junping shook his head and took a step back, but he also put forward clear conditions.
"At least six works, otherwise I won't be able to convince others."
"Six pieces, but I need your help to open a traveling exhibition of arts and crafts in France.
We want to hold exhibitions of traditional Chinese arts and crafts in major cities in France."
"I'm sorry, I can't help you!" George Fairburn decisively refused.
For the sake of six imitations, I can let you open a store on the Champs Elysées. If you want me to help you open an exhibition, this price is not enough.
"We are going to hold a touring exhibition in various European countries. If Mr. Stuart is willing to help, I am willing to produce one more work for each additional country in the touring exhibition." Zhang Junping said with a confident smile.
As a successful businessman, rejection can only mean one problem: the price is not right.
"Five works! I want five works for each additional country," George Fairburn said with a smile and stretched out his hand.
It's so comfortable to talk to smart people.
"Mr. Stuart, you are not the only art dealer who can speak well on the Champs Elysees Management Committee.
Compared to Paris, the market for bald eagles is larger.
For the nobility of European and American countries, Britain has greater influence than France.
If you don't agree, I will have to find someone else.
With two works from one country, I believe there will be many established art dealers willing to cooperate with me." Zhang Junping smiled and said his final price.
"Well! You are such a fine businessman!
Deal!" George Fairburn stared at Zhang Junping for a while, then smiled and stretched out his hand.
"Happy cooperation!" Zhang Junping also extended his hand and smiled.
"Mr. Stuart, should we discuss the price of replicas next?"
"The price of a replica? Mr. Zhang, I don't understand what you mean?"
"Haha! Mr. Stuart, don't you think that there are six imitations every year, plus two imitations in each country for traveling exhibitions.
Are these works provided for free?" Zhang Junping said with an exaggerated expression.
"Of course not, how could I think so.
Why don't we just keep the previous price?" George Fairburn said with an awkward smile.
"I feel like that's unfair to everyone."
"Mr. Zhang, you should understand that the reason why counterfeiting is so popular is that we invested a lot of resources to hype it up."
"I understand, so I only want 50% of the transaction price.
Is this price outrageous?" Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"Only fifty percent?" George Fairburn was stunned and quickly confirmed.
"Yes! I only want 50% of the transaction price!" Zhang Junping nodded firmly.
Don't think that Zhang Junping only needs 50%, which is a big disadvantage.
In fact, he took a huge advantage.
Don’t be dissatisfied, the oil painting market now and in the next twenty years is in Europe and the United States, and the main buyers are European and American.
European and American collectors like to collect oil paintings, but only for European and American painters.
Oil paintings by Chinese painters are not very popular in Europe and the United States.
In their opinion, buying Chinese oil paintings is not as good as buying Chinese ink paintings.
However, until the early 21st century, the price of Chinese ink paintings was not very high, with top-level paintings only costing several hundred thousand dollars.
It was not until the 21st century that ancient Chinese calligraphy and painting and modern ink painting experienced explosive growth.
Auction prices ranging from tens of millions to hundreds of millions appear frequently.
Chinese people who don’t know the truth will still feel proud of such a high price.
In fact, these are the international art dealers who are cutting the wool of the Chinese.
First raise the price, and then sell it to the Chinese at a high price.
They played this trick very smoothly.
In fact, there are also Chinese people helping here.
For example, the works of the other two Wus among the Three Wus often appeared in auction houses in later generations, and were often sold for hundreds of millions of RMB.
Are their works really worth the price?
Anyone who understands understands.
Therefore, Zhang Junping simply gave up most of the profits.
Because Zhang Junping knew very well that without George Fairburn and the others, no one would buy his works, let alone tens of millions, millions, or hundreds of thousands.
This has nothing to do with the level of painting.
Why is there a saying circulating in the painting circle that only when the author dies can the work be truly valuable.
This is an iron law. It cannot be said that there are not many painters who can break this iron law, but there are not many.
It can't even be said to be a breakthrough, it can only be said to be a mutual compromise.
For example, Picasso was already famous when he was alive and his works were already very valuable. However, in comparison, the price appreciation was even greater after his death.
To put it bluntly, the art market is still controlled by established art dealers like George Fairborn.
They won't promote your work unless the benefits are big enough.
Not to mention they won’t put a lot of effort into helping you speculate on prices.
The reason why imitations are hyped is because they are forced to do so.
They can accept losing money, but they cannot accept losing reputation.
In order to restore their reputation and recover the money they lost, they are forced to speculate.
At the same time, they have also made arrangements overtly and covertly, so that as soon as counterfeiting appears, they will immediately take control.
As a result, counterfeiting appeared, but they were unable to control it.
A country's inspection team is not so easy to control. If you really want to do it, it's not impossible, but the cost will be very high.
That's why George Fairburn came over to meet with Zhang Junping.
Successful businessmen do not choose to go to extremes unless necessary.
Fortunately, the result of the negotiation is good and it is a result they are willing to accept.
The most critical part is that after the negotiation is completed, the subsequent signing of the contract is all trivial matters.
In order to prove that he was a fake, Zhang Junping painted a work for George Fairborn and others on the spot.
George Fairburn was very patient and waited for more than three hours. When Zhang Junping finished the painting and the bald appraiser confirmed that it was indeed a fake, he stood up with a smile, held Zhang Junping's hand and said, "Mr. Zhang
, in order to wish you a happy cooperation!
I’ll treat you to a drink tonight!”
"Okay!" Zhang Junping shook George Fairburn's hand vigorously and said with a smile: "But not today!
Tomorrow! I will go to you with my lawyer tomorrow.
After we sign the contract, we can have a nice drink."
"Then as Mr. Zhang said, after signing the contract tomorrow, let's have a nice drink.
This is my phone number. When you are ready, call me and I will send someone to pick you up." George Fairburn was a little disappointed, but then he took out a business card with a smile and handed it to Zhang Junping.
"No problem, but I don't think I can call Mr. Stuart until the afternoon.
Because my lawyer has to fly over from Zurich, and it will take the afternoon at the earliest." Zhang Junping said with a smile.
"Mr. Zhang, if you are not a full-time lawyer.
There are many famous lawyers in Paris, so there is no need to go to Zurich to hire a lawyer." George Fairborn reminded him seemingly casually.
"He is a full-time lawyer of my company." Zhang Junping said with a smile.