Story at a glance
- The painting, titled “Diego y yo,” was sold for $34.9 million Tuesday evening.
- The painting features Kahlo’s face with a small image of her husband, fellow artist Diego Rivera, in the center of her forehead.
- The sale shattered the record for highest price ever paid for Latin American art, which was previously held by Rivera.
A self-portrait painted by Mexican painter Frida Kahlo has broken the record for most valuable Latin American art ever sold at a public auction.
The painting, titled “Diego y yo,” was sold for $34.9 million Tuesday evening at Sotheby’s Modern Evening Sale in New York. The 1949 self-portrait was purchased by the Eduardo F. Constantini Collection, a “renowned collector with a longstanding commitment to supporting Latin American art and artists,” according to Sotheby’s.
The artwork features Kahlo’s face with a small image of her husband, fellow artist Diego Rivera, in the center of her forehead. Rivera bears a third eye on his forehead to “symbolize the degree to which he occupied her consciousness,” according to Sotheby’s. Kahlo is also featured with tears in her eyes, a nod to the couple’s turbulent relationship.
#AuctionUpdate: Frida Kahlo’s ‘Diego y yo (Diego and I)’ was acquired by the Eduardo F. Costantini Collection, a renowned collector with a longstanding commitment to supporting Latin American art and artists, and founder of Malba, Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires. pic.twitter.com/Us3sZNZZhN
— Sotheby’s (@Sothebys) November 17, 2021
“Diego y yo” was painted just five years before Kahlo’s death and is considered to be her last self-portrait. The painting was last sold at Sotheby’s for $1.4 million in 1990, making Kahlo the first Latin American to bring in more than $1 million at auction.
America is changing faster than ever! Add Changing America to your Facebook or Twitter feed to stay on top of the news.
The sale shattered the record for highest price ever paid for Latin American art, which was previously held by Rivera for the $9.8 million sale of “The Rivals” in 2018. Kahlo’s own auction record was also broken several times over. Kahlo’s “Dos desnudos en el bosque” painting sold for $8 million in 2016.
“Frida Kahlo’s status as a global cultural icon is indisputable, and tonight’s outstanding result further secures her place in the auction echelon she belongs, as one of the true titans of 20th century art,” Julian Dawes, Sotheby’s co-head of impressionist and modern art, said in a statement.
READ MORE STORIES FROM CHANGING AMERICA
‘HAMILTON’ STAR LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA FIRES BACK AT CANCEL CULTURE
BIBLICAL PLAGUE OF DEADLY SCORPIONS WASHES OVER STREETS IN EGYPT
SHARKS SPOTTED IN FAMOUS RIVER THAT RUNS THROUGH LONDON
GIANT INVASIVE PYTHONS ARE SLITHERING NORTH IN FLORIDA
SENIOR NIH EXPERT PUSHES BACK ON GROWING VACCINE MANDATES
changing america copyright.
