Art is always unique and communicates a message to different people. The art paintings you see at the museum and in some private homes are quite expensive. People place a very high cost on paintings that cost millions in the open market. Sometimes it is often difficult to put the actual price tag on a painting. This is why it is often auctioned by bidding because of the number of people interested in it. Some paintings because of biddings have increased in value so much so that you would not believe the amount it goes for. Most times, as the painting goes from one buyer to another, it ages and the value increases as well. Some investors have seen buying paintings as a long-term investment.
For you to value paintings, you must first know their worth and have value for it. Just the casino game, may who do not understand painting may not value it.
Being one of a kind, it makes it difficult to put a price on many works; however, almost daily, art is sold and bought, oftentimes bringing hefty price tags that most will never be able to afford. Let us have a look at some artworks from the contemporary painters back to the old masters of the game. The list here is in no particular but a collection of the remarkably expensive artworks from around the globe.
Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa’s artwork is arguably and undeniable priceless. The Grand Master Leonardo da Vinci must have gotten inspiration for this painting from the Heavens. It is almost impossible to put a price tag on this painting. Mona Lisa painting was insured for about USD 100 million in 1962, making it the highest ever at that time. It is worth about USD 700 million in today’s money equivalent. With this amount, it is currently regarded as the most expensive painting of all time. Some have asked who Leonardo painted. Some say it is the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, a wealthy cloth merchant back then. Her name is Lisa Gherardini, known to be very beautiful back then. You can only enjoy this magnificent artwork in the Louvre Museum in France.
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) by Paul Gauguin
This painting is based on his love for Tahiti and her women. Paul Gauguin fell in love with Tahiti during a trip to that country. His paintings depict two beautiful women seated at a location with a colourful background way back in 1892. In 2015, this painting was auctioned for USD 300 million and was bought by an undisclosed bidder, which many believed to be the wealthy Qatar royal family. Paul Gauguin is an inspiration to many painters around the world.
The Card Players by Paul Cézanne
Art lovers around the world would agree that this is one of the best series of paintings to come from Paul Cézanne during this time on earth. Most of the series are scattered all over different museums around the world such as the Courtauld Institute of Art in London and Musée D’Orsay in Paris. A version of these paintings was sold privately in 2011 for a massive USD 250 million, making it the most expensive painting at that time. Unconfirmed reports believed that the Qatar royal family bought the painting and are currently the last people seen with the painting. So, if you are looking to see this painting, you have to visit the royal family.
Interchange by Willem de Kooning
In 1955, Willem de Kooning produced a masterpiece abstract painting called Interchange. This same painting plus one other was sold for a whopping USD 500 million in 2015 to a hedge fund investor billionaire, Ken Griffin. Griffin purchased two paintings from David Geffen, a business magnate of which Interchange alone was worth USD 300 million. Griffin, the chairman of the Art Institute of Chicago, has hoarded this artwork for several years only loaning it out to museums for public view.
Number 17A by Jackson Pollock
Two of Ken Griffin’s artwork were sold for USD 500 million in 2015, do you recall from above? Well, the second painting worth USD 200 million is Number 17A by Jackson Pollock. The expressionist Jackson Pollock painted this edifice in 1948 featuring different colours such as red, yellow, orange, blue, white, and black. Many art lovers get different meanings from this painting. You can only see this painting at the moment in the US, at the Art Institute of Chicago if you are permitted.
Now you know, some pieces of artwork are millions! The artwork is priceless.
