Art experts are holding Mark Rothko's painting "Brown and Blacks in Reds" at Sotheby's auction house in New York (USA) - Photo: John Nacion
Mark Rothko's painting " Brown and Blacks in Reds ," part of the collection of the late financier and art dealer Robert Mnuchin, fetched $74 million at Sotheby's New York auction on the evening of May 15th.
After fees were added, the work fetched a total value of $85.8 million, becoming the second highest price ever recorded for a Mark Rothko painting at auction. The record currently belongs to Orange, Red, Yellow (1961), which sold for $86.8 million at Christie's New York in 2012.
A masterpiece in red and black explodes onto the Sotheby's auction floor.
Auctioneer Oliver Barker opened the bidding at $65 million, and two collectors competed for about four minutes. When the price reached approximately $74 million, a phone suddenly rang in the auction room. "Did another bid just come in?" Oliver Barker joked, somewhat hoping the bidding would continue to heat up.
Ultimately, the artwork was won by a bidder represented by Helena Newman, President of Sotheby's Europe, who placed their bid via telephone.
Oliver Barker presided over the auction of Mark Rothko's "Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957) - Photo: Sotheby's
Brown and Blacks in Reds (1957), initially valued at between $70 and $100 million, was sold by Robert Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs banker who later became an art dealer. He had previously purchased the painting for $6.7 million in 2003. The identity of the winning bidder via telephone at Sotheby's remains confidential.
Following the art market's recovery last fall, collectors flocked to New York for a week-long series of auctions by Sotheby's, Christie's, and Phillips.
Market sentiment is currently more optimistic about the value of art, despite the global economy still being affected by war and rising fuel and food prices.
Mark Rothko's painting "Brown and Blacks in Reds" (1957) - Photo: Sotheby's
Mark Rothko, the Latvian immigrant artist who helped shape Abstract Expressionism, is becoming a benchmark for the art market this season. He is renowned for his compositions featuring layered, contrasting yet harmonious blocks of color, aiming to evoke strong emotions in viewers.
Mark Rothko subtly reflected his ambitions and psychological struggles through his works from the 1930s until his death in 1970.
Because Mark Rothko's iconic works are not tied to any specific landscape or culture, his paintings are increasingly sought after by international collectors.
The painting Brown and Blacks in Reds (229.9 x 154 cm) likely benefits from its distinctive color palette. Collectors like Mark Rothko are often willing to pay higher prices for works dominated by vibrant reds – similar to how supercar enthusiasts are drawn to striking colors – or other bright sunset hues.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/gioi-sieu-giau-tra-85-trieu-usd-cho-buc-hoa-phu-sac-do-den-20260516111829839.htm
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