The once hated symbols of social disconnection — smartphones, the Internet and social networks — in these tragic days turned out to be just saving technologies for many. Including for sellers, buyers and connoisseurs of art in quarantine. Online exhibitions, online lectures, online fairs, online auctions... The virus simply forcibly drove entire countries into the era of remote consumption that was despised until recently. Yes, imperfect. Yes, without “live communication” and “warm human contact”. But safe.

From Moscow to the long-suffering Chinese Wuhan — 6340 km. By early February, neighbors had more than 37,000 sick and more than 800 dead. This is only official. But time goes on, there are no reports about cases of the disease in Moscow. Therefore, the former semi-panicky sentiments began to be rapidly replaced by cap-hatters. “Knowing people” already make it clear that the epidemic is about to be taken under control, everything will end in March-April, and the effect of the virus on the Russian economy will be quite insignificant.

The events of January 15, 2020 developed almost in the spirit of political activism. They were waiting for a routine dull event of the era of «stability». No desire to watch and listen. And here's the bang: the resignation of the Medvedev government, the ex-head of the tax service Mishustin at the premiere, while the changes to the Constitution are not clear. And all this already four years before the end of the presidential term.

What are the consequences for the long-suffering economy in general and the national art market in particular?

You can do it. There are a set of steps. But for starters, let's eliminate the situation when it comes to works of unknown authorship, without signatures, as well as paintings by amateur artists, amateur copies and mass reproductions. All of them often cost symbolic money, 1,000-5,000 rubles. The age of the picture (old — not old) is also not a criterion for its price. So we take it as a condition that the name of the author of the evaluated work is known in advance and the picture is signed. Then the general procedure will be something like this: