A remarkable painting by Frida Kahlo has set a new auction record for female artists, selling for $54.7 million. This groundbreaking sale occurred during a highly competitive bidding war at Sotheby’s auction house, where two collectors vied for ownership of the artwork.
Record-Breaking Sale of Kahlo’s El sueño (la cama)
The painting, titled El sueño (la cama), translates to The dream (The bed). This piece is celebrated as one of Kahlo’s most “psychologically charged” self-portraits. The auction price surpassed $1 million times the original selling price of just $51,000 back in 1980.
Background of the Artwork
El sueño (la cama) features Kahlo depicted in a canopy bed, paired dramatically with a skeleton entwined with dynamite. This painting was created during a particularly tumultuous period in her life: the year following her divorce and remarriage, and shortly after the assassination of her former lover.
Kahlo’s Influence in Art
Frida Kahlo, who passed away in 1954, is recognized as one of the most significant painters of the 20th century. Her work frequently explores themes of identity and pain related to her body, impacted by polio and a serious bus accident. Her personal and emotive portraits resonate deeply with audiences worldwide.
Significance of the Auction Result
- This sale breaks the previous record for a Kahlo painting, which sold for $34.9 million in 2021.
- The previous highest auction price set for a female artist was $44 million for Georgia O’Keeffe’s Jimson Weed / White Flower No.1 in 2014.
- According to Anna Di Stasi, head of Latin American art at Sotheby’s, the result highlights the growing appreciation for Kahlo’s artistic prowess and the increasing recognition of women artists in the market.
El sueño (la cama) remains one of the few Kahlo paintings available for public sale, as Mexican authorities designated her artworks as cultural monuments in the 1980s, restricting their export without permission. Kahlo’s legacy continues to influence artists and art lovers alike, amplified further by the biographical film starring Salma Hayek, which narrates her complex personal life.
