It’s been a long year in the art market, as with the rest of the world’s markets. I don’t have to rehash all the causes of uncertainty, but in the end, the May auctions ran the gauntlet as well as could be expected, even if the future shape of the market remains slightly uncertain. On the one hand, we know that big-money buyers are back on the prowl, responding to the new supply of high-quality historical art coming to market. But there’s also a trend where works bought within the past five years of the market are coming back to the auction block. And, surprisingly, these two trends are taking place at different auction houses during this year’s London sales, which begin next week.