Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Cubist Orientalism and a New Record Price for Art

Picasso's Les Femmes d'Alger (Version O) sold yesterday for $179.4 million, a new record for any work of art sold at auction. The identity of the buyer has not yet been revealed. At least I like this better than the previous record-holder, an awful thing by Francis Bacon.

But doesn't it resurrect the discredited male gaze?
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2 comments:

  1. G. VerlorenMay 12, 2015 at 6:02 PM

    Are art prices climbing in response to the rich getting richer? Or is this more a case of inflation causing the numbers to be bigger before adjustment?

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  2. pootrsoxMay 12, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    Most likely purchaser is in Mainland China.

    They have been deeply invested in Western art, to the point of buying themselves slots in at least one bienniale to promote-- get this!-- an artist from some obscure place *not* in China.

    Part of their "We're first world now, guys!" posturing.

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