Thursday, May 3, 2012

Munch Sells








One of the 4 original 1895 versions of Edvard Munch's famous Scream, and the last of all the versions still in private hands, sold in New York at Sotheby's for $120 million.   An anonymous buyer bought it.  It will probably disappear into a bank vault and not see the light of day again for decades.  Also, insurance rates on Munch paintings in museums and public collections around the world just went up.

I wonder who the buyer was: international banker? oil sheik?  arms dealer?  Russian oligarch?  American hedge fund raider?  drug dealer?  trust fund baby?  real estate baron?  media tycoon?  who knows?

That pastel on cardboard by a visionary Norwegian neurotic turned into quite a golden status trophy over time.

2 comments:

June Butler said...

Too bad the artist didn't reap the benefit. The painting is striking and disturbing, but I wouldn't want it hanging in my house.

JCF said...

That'll be my next response to the "Class Warfare!11!1!" CANARD.

"anonymous buyer"