Posted on 05/02/2012 7:00:17 PM PDT by Hojczyk
One of the art world's most recognizable images — Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — sold Wednesday for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City.
The 1895 artwork — a modern symbol of human anxiety — was sold at Sotheby's. The buyer's name was not released.
The previous record for an artwork sold at auction was $106.5 million for Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust," sold by Christie's in 2010.
The image has become part of pop culture, "used by everyone from Warhol to Hollywood to cartoons to teacups and T-shirts," said Michael Frahm of the London-based art advisory service firm Frahm Ltd. "Together with the Mona Lisa, it's the most famous and recognized image in art history."
A buzz swept through the room when the artwork was presented for auction as two guards stood watch on either side. Bidding started at $40 million with seven buyers jumping into the competition early.
The battle eventually boiled down to two phone bidders as the historic hammer price was finally achieved after more than 12 minutes. The record price includes the buyer's premium, an additional amount the buyer pays the auction house.
"If you look at the billionaires, there are only so many private islands they can buy, private jets, private yachts. There's only one Scream," said Sue Prideaux, who wrote a book about Munch and was in the room during the auction.
Munch's image of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is one of four versions by the Norwegian expressionist painter. The auctioned piece at Sotheby's is the only one left in private hands.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
Hopefully, that will be the image he will see when looking into a mirror on Election Day.
Hopefully, that will be the image he will see when looking into a mirror on Election Day.
You better take a closer look—I think somebody messed with the image of “Christina’s World” that you posted.
You better take a closer look—I think somebody messed with the image of “Christina’s World” that you posted.
I always liked it. But $120M? No way.
There’s [more than]only one Scream. Lots of sketches too.
"Woman looking for contact lenses in the grass"?
"Woman wakes up at dawn after passing out on the lawn during a wild overnight party"?
Why is the sky a different color on the left? What kind of car is in the driveway?
How am I supposed to understand the picture when I don't know those details?
I wish I had known about this earlier. I have two of them.
The “buyer” had better pray that the “greater fool” theory lasts at least one more cycle.
Yep.
my bad... you are right. I was just looking quickly for some Wyeth painting as an example and didn't notice the subdivision someone pasted in.
Here's the proper link.
Not at all. I don't especially care for that sentimental mass produced Hallmark stuff.
But I do very much appreciate fine draftsmanship and composition.
But then again, the NY 'Art Critics' just always demeaned the guy who did these as just a 'Commercial Artist.' Not a 'creative guy.' ;~))
He sure beat the hell out of the phonies like Jackson Pollock who followed him.
The problem with the fine art world today, is that first, you have to prove you are 'politically correct' and only after that, do you have the opportunity to perhaps be deemed talented.
Thanks. I had seen the painting before but didn’t remember the red sunrise/sunset and didn’t remember the row of townhouses. I didn’t know the story behind the painting.
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