Frida Kahlo Self-Portrait Set to Smash Female Artist Auction Record

A historic Frida Kahlo painting is heading to auction in New York. The 1940 self-portrait, titled “El sueño” (The Dream), could sell for up to $60 million. This sale is poised to break the existing auction record for any female artist.

Sotheby’s will oversee the sale on Thursday. The event highlights the soaring market for Kahlo’s deeply personal and powerful work. According to Reuters, the painting has been rarely exhibited since the late 1990s.

Details of the Landmark Sale

The current record for a female artist was set in 2014. Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1” sold for $44.4 million. Kahlo’s own auction record stands at $34.9 million for her 1949 painting “Diego and I.”

The work for sale is estimated between $40 million and $60 million. It comes from an undisclosed private collection. The sale also features over 100 surrealist works by artists like Salvador Dalí.

The Painting’s Powerful Symbolism

“The Dream” depicts Kahlo asleep in a colonial-style bed. A full-sized skeleton appears to levitate above her on the bedposts. Sotheby’s catalog describes the piece as a meditation on sleep and death.

This imagery is deeply connected to Kahlo’s life of chronic pain. She began painting after a severe bus accident at age 18. The skeleton is often seen as a reflection of her fear of dying in her sleep.

The painting is a stunning example of her unique surrealist vision. It captures the physical and emotional struggles that defined her existence. Her work continues to resonate with collectors and art lovers worldwide.

This landmark auction underscores the enduring power of Frida Kahlo’s art. The potential record-breaking sale cements her status as an icon. The world now watches to see what price this profound self-portrait will command.

Thought you’d like to know-

What is the current auction record for a female artist?

The current record is held by Georgia O’Keeffe. Her painting “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1” sold for $44.4 million in 2014. This was also at a Sotheby’s auction.

What is Frida Kahlo’s current personal auction record?

Kahlo’s current auction record is $34.9 million. This was paid for her 1949 self-portrait “Diego and I” in 2021. The new sale is expected to far surpass that amount.

What does the painting “El sueño” depict?

It shows Kahlo asleep in a bed wrapped in an embroidered blanket. A skeleton is levitating above her on the bedposts. The work explores themes of sleep, pain, and mortality.

Why is Frida Kahlo’s art so valuable?

Her work is celebrated for its raw emotional power and unique style. She depicted her own life, pain, and Mexican heritage with stunning honesty. This authenticity creates immense demand in the art market.

When was this painting last publicly exhibited?

“El sueño” was last shown to the public in the late 1990s. Its appearance at auction is a rare event. This contributes to the high interest and estimated price.