A self-portrait created by the renowned Mexican artist Frida Kahlo in 1940 was recently auctioned in New York, fetching a staggering $54.7 million US ($77 million Cdn). This sale set a new record as the highest price ever paid for a piece by a female artist, surpassing the previous record held by Georgia O’Keeffe’s artwork that sold for $44.4 million US in 2014.
Titled “El sueño (La cama)” or “The Dream (The Bed)” in English, the painting portrays Kahlo asleep in a bed. It is one of the rare Kahlo pieces held in private outside Mexico, where her artworks are considered a national treasure and are protected from being sold abroad or destroyed.
The self-portrait, part of a private collection whose owner remains undisclosed, is now eligible for international sale. However, concerns have been raised by some art historians regarding the cultural significance of the sale and the possibility of the painting disappearing from public display after the auction. Requests have already been made for the painting to be featured in upcoming exhibitions in various cities.
The artwork, which vividly depicts Kahlo in a dream-like scene with symbolic elements, reflects the artist’s personal struggles and experiences, including a life-altering bus accident she endured at a young age. Kahlo’s artistic journey, marked by physical pain and emotional turmoil, is captured in her self-portraits that delve into themes of mortality and self-expression.
The painting, showcased alongside surrealist works by other prominent artists, highlights Kahlo’s unique style that defies traditional labels. Despite being associated with surrealism, Kahlo distanced herself from this classification, emphasizing that her art was a reflection of her reality rather than mere dreams.
In a statement, Sotheby’s described the painting as a contemplation on the blurred line between sleep and death, with the skeletal figure symbolizing Kahlo’s fear of dying in her sleep due to her chronic pain and traumatic past. The artwork stands as a poignant representation of the artist’s inner struggles and creative vision.