NEW YORK (AP) — A striking self-portrait by the iconic Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is set to make waves at Sotheby’s auction in New York. This 1940 piece, titled “El sueño (La cama)” or “The Dream (The Bed),” may fetch between $40 million and $60 million. If successful, it could break the record for the highest price ever paid for artwork by a female artist. That record is currently held by Georgia O’Keeffe, whose painting sold for $44.4 million in 2014.
Kahlo’s highest auction price to date stands at $34.9 million, paid in 2021 for “Diego and I,” which portrays her and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera. Remarkably, some of her works have sold privately for even higher amounts.
This particular painting features Kahlo asleep in a colonial-style bed, draped in a golden blanket adorned with intricate vines. Above her hovers a full-sized skeleton, adding a surreal touch to the image.
Sotheby’s describes the artwork as “a spectral meditation on the porous boundary between sleep and death.” The piece hasn’t been publicly exhibited since the late 1990s and is a highlight of a larger auction that includes over 100 surrealist works from artists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte. The collection comes from an undisclosed private owner.
Kahlo’s art often reflects her tumultuous life, which was dramatically changed by a bus accident at the age of 18. This incident led to multiple surgeries and a lifetime of pain. She began painting during her recovery, using her art as an outlet for her suffering and experiences. As noted in Sotheby’s catalog, the skeleton in the painting symbolizes Kahlo’s anxiety about dying in her sleep—an understandable fear for someone whose life was marked by chronic pain.
Interestingly, Kahlo’s works have gained immense popularity in recent years, especially on social media. Platforms like Instagram and TikTok have propelled her imagery into mainstream culture, with fans sharing interpretations and personal connections to her art. This surge in popularity reflects not just her artistic talent but also the deep resonance of her themes—identity, pain, and the human experience.
The auction of “The Dream (The Bed)” is more than just a sale; it’s a moment that underscores Kahlo’s lasting impact on art and culture. As the world watches, it’s an opportunity to celebrate her unique voice and the emotional depth captured in her work.
Source link
Frida Kahlo, Georgia OKeeffe, Painting, General news, Local News for Apple, New York City, New York, JWD-evergreen, Ren Magritte, World news, Diego Rivera, Entertainment, Meditation, Dorothea Tanning, World News
