Who will pay $80 million (or so) for Edvard Munch's 'The Scream'?

LAT ^ | April 30, 2012 | Christopher Knight

[Daffynition]

Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel "The Scream" hits the auction block in New York on Wednesday. No official estimate for its monetary value is printed in Sotheby's catalog, but officials have not been shy about disclosing that they expect at least $80 million for the picture, still in the original frame annotated by the artist. When one of the world's most recognizable images is paired with the highest price any auction house has ever tagged on a work of art, the temptation for snark is nearly irresistible.

As in: $80 million? No wonder the guy's screaming.

[Daffynition]

[gorush]

All art is the same...talent is talent! Yet it seems that one out of the three doesn't qualify.

[Past Your Eyes]

Who wouldn’t scream?

[ClearCase_guy]

I’m not a huge fan of “modern” art, but this is iconic and really sums up the century that had not yet started when this was created. I don’t think $80M is out of line.

[bruinbirdman]

" I don’t think $80M is out of line."

Munch created four "Screams" using different media including crayon and pastel (chalk?) and platforms including cardboard. One of them was a commissioned duplicate (triplicate? quadruplet?)

yitbos

[Daffynition]

It'll bring in some bacon.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

[Domestic Church]

For the bacon, it’s Van Gogh!

http://www.foodiggity.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/strry_night_bacon.jpg

[Daffynition]

In a page in his diary headed Nice 22.01.1892, Munch described his inspiration for the image thus:

I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.

[hinckley buzzard]

There are a bunch of billionaires floating around for whom 80 million would be a small price to keep their whores happy. For an iconic work of art? Instant specialness? Bargain at twice the price.

"Whatever the market will bear..."

[kaehurowing]

I thought it was entitled “Obama Announces Re-Election Bid.”

[deks]

[SunkenCiv]

Did this work disappear for years on end a couple of times? Thanks Daffynition.

[SunkenCiv]

[xp38]

This is a non painted version and there are several versions....according to wiki. The Scream (Norwegian: Skrik) is a series of Expressionist paintings and prints created by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch between 1893 and 1910, showing an agonized figure against a red sky. The landscape in the background is the Oslofjord, viewed from Ekeberg, Oslo. Edvard Munch created several versions of The Scream in various media. The National Gallery, Oslo holds one of two painted versions (1893, shown). The Munch Museum holds the other painted version (1910, see gallery) and one pastel. A fourth version (1895), in pastel, is owned by Norwegian businessman Petter Olsen, and will be offered at auction on May 2, 2012.[1] Experts estimate that the painting could sell for as much as $80 million. Munch also created a lithograph of the image in 1895.[2] The Scream has been the target of several high-profile art thefts. In 1994, the version in the National Gallery was stolen. It was recovered several months later. In 2004, The Scream and Madonna were stolen from the Munch Museum, and recovered two years later.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Cf post #16. :)

[BreezyDog]

Proof aliens(greys)exist...Am I right crazy hair man?