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Sotheby's in New York is set to auction a self-portrait by famed Mexican artist Frida Kahlo titled "El sueño (La cama)" today. The 1940 painting is expected to fetch between $40 million and $60 million, potentially setting a new record for the most expensive artwork by a female artist. This would surpass the $44.4 million record set by Georgia O'Keeffe's "Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1" in 2014.
The painting, depicting Kahlo asleep beneath a skeleton in a carved canopy bed, is considered one of her greatest works. According to NPR, Sotheby's head of Latin American art, Anna Di Stasi, described it as a fusion of "dream imagery and symbolic precision with unmatched emotional intensity." The piece has not been publicly exhibited since the late 1990s and is part of a private collection that includes works by Salvador Dalí and René Magritte.
Kahlo's previous auction record was set in 2021 when her painting "Diego y yo" sold for $34.9 million. The artist's work often explores themes of identity, pain, and resilience, influenced by her personal experiences, including a severe bus accident at 18 that left her with chronic pain.
The auction comes at a time when interest in surrealist women artists is rising, and Kahlo's legacy continues to grow. As reported by KTSM, her paintings are renowned for their candid storytelling and emotional depth, making her a cultural icon with enduring appeal.
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