On Tuesday, a painting by iconic artist Frida Kahlo was sold at auction for $34.9 million, making it the highest-selling art in Latin American history.
Diego and me Sold from private collections by Sotheby’s Auction House, a luxury brokerage in New York City. In addition to being the largest auction of Latin American art, it also broke the record for Kahlo’s work: her previous most valuable work was sold for approximately $8 million.
Sales also make Diego and me The second highest sales volume of female works, after Georgia O’Keefe (Georgia O’Keefe) Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1, Sold for $44.4 million.
This artwork was purchased by Eduardo F. Constantini Collection. Eduardo F. Constantini Collection is a Latin collector with a “long-term commitment to supporting Latin American art and artists”. He also founded a company in Buenos Aires, Argentina Museum of Art.
Completed in 1949, Diego and me It is a self-portrait of Kahlo, depicting the second marriage of a Mexican artist to Diego Rivera. According to Sotheby’s Auction House, this was the last fully completed self-portrait of a “bust” before her death in 1954.
According to art historians, in addition to the controversial relationship with her husband, this surrealist painting seems to imply a relationship with actress Maria Felix.
According to reports, Kahlo would joke about this in public, and it soon became one of the first high-profile same-sex relationships in the media.
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In the viewing room of Sotheby’s where the painting is hung, a passage from Carlo is printed on the wall describing her life.
“I don’t believe that the riverbank will suffer because of letting the water flow away, nor the earth will suffer because of rain, nor that atoms will suffer because of the release of energy… For me, everything has natural compensation,” the quote writes road. “In my difficult and obscure role as an ally of extraordinary existence, I got the same reward as the green dot in the red dot. I got the reward of’balance’.”
This is not the first time this house has participated in the sale of this painting. Diego and me It was previously sold for $1.4 million at the Sotheby’s auction in 1990.
Although this is not much by today’s standards, this auction made Kahlo the first Latin American artist to sell a painting for more than $1 million.
Carlo was born in a small village on the outskirts of Mexico City and became one of the most famous painters in history. He was praised for helping Mexican art to become famous all over the world.
Although her works are currently gaining fame, until the 1970s, most of Carlo’s works were still little known. However, once discovered, Carlo’s work began to be displayed in exhibitions around the world.
Today, nearly 70 years after her death, Carlo is recognized as an artistic icon and a symbol of the LGBT community and feminism.
The highest amount paid for one of her works seems to be a suitable self-portrait. The artist has completed many of these works during her career, many of which are her most famous works.
Carlo was quoted as saying that she “[doesn’t] Describe dreams or nightmares. I painted my own reality. “
Weekly newspaper Sotheby’s has been contacted for comments.
