At an auction at New York's auction house Christie's the painting Nude, Green Leaves and Bustby Pablo Picasso sold for $106,500,000. A bidder who prefers to remain anonymous has won the auction earlier in May 2010 by bidding via phone.
The painting which measures 150 x 120 cm, depicts a female reclining nude with an image of Picasso himself in the background watching over her. The painting belonged to the deceased Californian art lover Frances Lasker Brody who had bought it in the 50's. The artwork remained in her family for over 50 years. A part of the proceedings from the auction will go to the Huntington Library in California, a library in which Brody settled in the board.
The previous record paid for a Picasso painting was $104 200 000 for Boy with a Pipe. Although Picasso has created many works, the work that he has done for modern art still remains truly appreciated by art collectors and art lovers around the world. The most expensive painting by any artist is a work of Jackson Pollock (Number 5) which fetched $140 million dollars in 2006 at Sotheby's.
Due to the economic crisis we have noticed a sharp decline in the prices private collectors as well as museums are paying for contemporary art. However strong pieces by strong artists have managed to keep the momentum going. In an over-hyped world, everything sells well but in a world that is tightening, true class still gets the praise it should.
