Picasso Painting Sells At Auction For $179 Million, A Record

By NPR

Published May 11, 2015 at 9:49 PM PDT

This story was published more than 9 years ago.

The Picasso work Les femmes d'Alger (Version O) was sold for a record-breaking $179,365,000 Monday by Christie's auction house, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. — The Picasso work *Les femmes d'Alger (Version O)* was sold for a record-breaking $179,365,000 Monday by Christie's auction house, making it the most expensive painting ever sold.

Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is photographed in 1955, the year he completed his Women of Algiers series, in his villa, La Californie, in Cannes, France. — Spanish painter Pablo Picasso is photographed in 1955, the year he completed his *Women of Algiers* series, in his villa, La Californie, in Cannes, France.

A guard stands beside Alberto Giacometti's life-size bronze sculpture Pointing Man after it sold for more than $141 million Monday, earning it the title of most expensive sculpture sold at auction — a title it took from another Giacometti sculpture sold for more than $100 million in 2010. — A guard stands beside Alberto Giacometti's life-size bronze sculpture *Pointing Man* after it sold for more than $141 million Monday, earning it the title of most expensive sculpture sold at auction — a title it took from another Giacometti sculpture sold for more than $100 million in 2010.

Become a KPBS sponsor

Claude Monet's Le Parliament, soleil couchant was part of a series of at least 19 paintings Monet began during stays in London in 1899 and 1900, all from the same perspective, but in different weather and at different times of day. — Claude Monet's *Le Parliament, soleil couchant* was part of a series of at least 19 paintings Monet began during stays in London in 1899 and 1900, all from the same perspective, but in different weather and at different times of day.

A visitor views at Christie's London showroom No. 36 (Black Stripe), a 1958 painting by Mark Rothko. — A visitor views at Christie's London showroom *No. 36 (Black Stripe)*, a 1958 painting by Mark Rothko.

Two world records for art sold at auction were set Monday night in the New York offices of Christie's.

Pablo Picasso's Women of Algiers (Version O) sold to an anonymous bidder for $179.4 million, the most ever for a painting.

Alberto Giacometti's Pointing Man set a record for sculpture sold at auction when an anonymous buyer paid $141.3 million.

The Associated Press explained the extraordinary prices:

Become a KPBS sponsor

"Experts say the high sale prices were driven by artworks' investment value and by wealthy collectors seeking out the very best works."'I don't really see an end to it, unless interest rates drop sharply, which I don't see happening in the near future,' dealer Richard Feigen said. "Impressionist and modern artworks continue to corner the market because 'they are beautiful, accessible and a proven value,' added Sarah Lichtman, a professor of design history and curatorial studies at The New School. "'I think we will continue to see the financiers seeking these works out as they would a blue chip company that pays reliable dividends for years to come,' she said."

The curated collection was called Looking Forward to the Past by Christie's, which explained the choice of title on its website:

"All of the works offered in Looking Forward to the Past were selected for their connection to a central theme of artistic innovation inspired by the past. The exhibition generated a tremendous response from both clients and the public. 15,000 visitors have viewed the pre-sale exhibition at Christie's Rockefeller Center galleries over the last 10 days, and this evening's sale saw participation from a diverse group of clients representing 35 different countries."

Other noteworthy works at the auction included Claude Monet's The Houses of Parliament, At Sunset, which fetched $40.5 million; and Mark Rothko's No. 36 (Black Stripe), which also sold for $40.5 million.