A self-portrait by renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo has shattered auction records, selling for $54.66 million at Sotheby's New York on Thursday, November 20. The sale establishes the painting as the most expensive artwork by a female artist ever sold at auction, cementing Kahlo's enduring popularity among art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide.
The record-breaking piece, titled "Le Rêve" (The Dream), surpassed the previous benchmark set by American artist Georgia O'Keeffe, whose work reached $44.4 million in 2014. The significant price increase demonstrates the growing market appreciation for works by female artists and Kahlo's particular appeal in the contemporary art world.
"Le Rêve" was created in 1940 during what Sotheby's describes as "a crucial decade in her career, marked by her tumultuous relationship with Diego Rivera," the famous Mexican muralist. The painting represents a deeply personal vision, depicting the artist sleeping in a bed that appears to float in the sky, overshadowed by an enormous skeleton whose legs are surrounded by sticks of dynamite.
Anna Di Stasi, Sotheby's specialist in Latin American art, explained to AFP that the painting presents a "very personal" image in which Kahlo "merges folkloric motifs from Mexican culture with European surrealism." This fusion of cultural elements exemplifies Kahlo's unique artistic approach, which has continued to resonate with audiences decades after her death.
The identity of the buyer has not been disclosed, following standard practice for high-value art transactions. The sale reflects the continued strength of the art market for masterworks by historically significant artists, particularly those whose personal stories and artistic vision continue to captivate contemporary audiences.
