Millions of people all over the world are in agreement that art is subjective. While there are certainly many others who dispute this claim, there is no denying that some artworks have received a lot more attention than others have over the course of history.
In fact, art collectors can often be quite competitive when it comes to the buying of sought-after works, with many of them more than willing to part with millions of dollars in order to secure a single piece that will give them a one-up on other collectors.
Let’s take a look at some of the world’s most expensive works of art and how much they are known to have sold for.
17A by Jackson Pollock
Created in 1948, Jackson Pollock did not give this artwork a very creative name. However, it serves as one of the best examples of the artist’s radical and unique drip paintings.
While the artwork looks as though it happened randomly and spontaneously, art critics believe that when looking at it, it is possible to track the very precisive movement and control that he had in creating his iconic pieces. 17A was sold privately in 2015 and fetched an impressive USD 200 million!
Nafea Faa Ipoipo by Paul Gauguin
Gaugin’s most famous work, the title of which translates to “When Will You Marry?” dates back to 1892.
He created it using oil paints on canvas and was said to be inspired to paint it while on a trip to Tahiti. Before being sold, the painting was on loan to the Kunstmuseum in Basel, Switzerland for almost 50 years. However, in February 2015, it was reportedly sold to Sheika Al-Mayassa bit Hamad Al-Thani for a cool USD 210 million.
The Card Players by Paul Cézanne
The Card Players is a series of five paintings. They vary in size, as well as in their depictions of the card players, which vary in the number of players, as well as the setting in which they are playing their game. In 2011, one version of these paintings was sold to Qatar’s Royal Family for an estimated USD 250 million.
Interchange by Willem de Kooning
Another oil on canvas painting, Interchange is a creation by the Dutch-American artist Willem de Kooning. It depicts one of his very first abstract landscapes, for which he became renowned for.
In September 2015, the David Geffen Foundation sold the artwork to Kenneth C. Griffin for an incredible USD 300 million. You’d have to place some great roulettecanada.com/cad games online to get your hands non that kind of cash!
Salvator Mundi, attributed to Leonardo da Vinci
This painting’s title translates to “Saviour of the World” in Latin and is thought to depict Jesus Christ. While there is no signage indicating that Leonardo da Vinci really did paint Salvator Mundi, it has been evaluated by experts and is thought to have the same style and ‘presence’ that da Vinci’s works are known to have.
This is the most expansive painting ever sold, with Christie’s auctioning it off for an unbelievable USD 450.3 million in 2017! It is thought to have been purchased for display at The Louvre, Abu Dhabi.