There seem to be more record prices for paintings and painters at auctions than ever before. Christie’s recent major art sale had 13, including the record price for any living artist. The painting, “Portrait of the Artist (Pool with Two Figures)” by David Hockney, pictures a boy watching a person swimming in a pool. It sold for $90.3 million. It was much higher than the old record of $58.4 million set in 2013 for “Balloon Dog,” a sculpture by Jeff Koons.
Photo: CHRISTIE’S IMAGES LTD. 2018
It all depends on who the buyer is and how meaningful the painting was to the buyer. I assume its a historical painting for the gay community given the subject matter of two gay men in the 70’s
Why? I don’t see anything in that was worth millions.
I think all these people are trying to be the next trend setters with their art. Kind of like these people & kids who have to be the next selfie gurus taking things to the extreme to garner millions of followers. It is all the “look at me ” people who in MY opinion really need some help with insecurity issues. You can be rich, famous and out there for the world to see and still have emotional, mental and/or security issues. Fair market value is what people are willing to sell it for and what the buyer is willing to pay. Nobody says “Trend Setters” had to have common sense and apparently some people have more money than brains…..Capitalism at its best!!!
I don’t get it either. Totally amazing. What are Rembrants valued at these days????
Don’t feel like the Long Ranger. I don’t get it either. If that is “worth” 90million, then what is a painting from the Old Masters worth???
What is going on in the art world? I wonder how reflective it is on the sign of our times. The people who are buying all this modern art are not stupid people–they are quite successful and intelligent. It is therefore such a mystery as to how/why they are letting themselves be taken for a ride by mediocre artists at best, who are at times painting simple geometric shapes or downright doodling! Andy Warhol–very cool and innovative art work. And at least with him, he described himself as a producer of pop art. Him, I get, but the vast majority of the rest of them, who are touted as serious artists—I don’t get it— as the commenter just above states.
You got to question modern art when a painting that simply looks like a bunch of swirls is called, “woman in landscape”. Case in point, this piece is featured in the new documentary, “The Price of Everything” whereby someone asks on camera, “Which is the woman and which is the landscape?”
I don’t get it.