One of the art world's most recognizable images — Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — sold for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City.
The 1895 artwork — a modern symbol of human anxiety — was sold at Sotheby's Wednesday evening. The price includes the buyer's premium.
The image of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is one of four versions by the Norwegian expressionist painter. The auctioned piece at Sotheby's is the only one left in private hands.
The previous record for an artwork sold at auction was $106.5 million for Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust," sold by Christie's in 2010.
Proceeds from Wednesday's sale will go toward the establishment of a new museum, art center and hotel in Norway.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.