The 12 most expensive works of art in the world (with photos)

Artists express their emotions, sensations and the way they perceive the environment through different resources, whether linguistic, sound or plastic, in order to convey an idea or a message. Works of art reflect in a different way to reality, which reaches the viewer through the subjectivity of the artist, who lives it influenced society, the environment where it is found and reflects it in his works through endless techniques.

The term work of art refers to those works that, due to being painted by recognized artists or being elaborated with a special technique, are considered as works worthy of admiration, for which their value becomes very significant. This terminology comes from the Europe of the Middle Ages, when an aspirant wanted to join the artists' guilds of the time and obtain the title of teacher.

Many investors, businessmen and collectors, do everything possible to acquire works of art, either as a source of income in the future or simply to appreciate its beauty and have it in homes. In the world there is a large number of paintings by famous authors whose

values ​​reach millions of dollars and that are acquired in auctions and private sales.

Do you know of any work of art that is so splendid to have a really high value? Whether your answer is affirmative or negative, we invite you to stay in this article where we will talk about the most expensive works of art around the world.

• We recommend you read: "The 80 best phrases about Art"

Most expensive works of art around the world

Here you will know not only which are the most expensive works, but also the story behind its production and of course, who were the artists who gave life to the works. Can you recognize some? If you could buy them, which one would you like to have?

1. "Salvator Mundi", by Da Vinci

It is one of 20 known paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and shows Christ as the savior of the world in Renaissance garb. In his left hand he holds a crystalline sphere, while his right hand is raised with his fingers crossed. Da Vinci reflects Jesus as master of the cosmos and sovereign of the heavens, who is represented by the sphere that he holds.

It was made in the year 1500 and painted with the oil on walnut technique and in 2017 it became the most expensive painting ever sold. It was auctioned for 450 million dollars and was acquired by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohamed bin Salam. It is still in his possession and he intends to exhibit it in his country.

2. "Les femmes d'Alger", by Picasso

Painted by Pablo Picasso, who was inspired by the painting by Eugène Delacroix entitled ‘Women of Algiers in his apartment’. This painting is part of a series of 15 paintings that the artist created as a tribute to various artists that he admired. It was made by the Spanish painter in 1955 in oil on canvas and has dimensions of 114 by 156.4 centimeters. It is recognized as one of the most important artistic achievements of the modern era.

It became the most expensive work, being auctioned for a value of $ 179.3 million in 2015 and its buyer was a Qatari sheikh.

3. "The Card Players", by Cézanne

A post-impressionist work created by the French painter Paul Cézanne in the early 1890s, during the painter's final period. It is part of five paintings on the theme of playing cards that Cézanne made during the post-impressionism period. The main figures are two peasants playing cards with a bottle of wine in the middle, which reflects the light.

In this work, the players are well defined with geometric characteristics that attracted the attention of Picasso and other artists of Cubism. In 2012 it became the painting with the highest value when it was purchased for the modest sum of $ 250 million, becoming the most expensive work to be acquired until 2015.

4. "Nude lying down", by Modigliani

Amedeo Modigliani is the artist of this work painted in oil on canvas and is one of the best known nudes of the artist and for many it is his letter of introduction. Also known as "Lying Nude with Open Arms" or "Red Nude", it is a 60 by 92 cm painting dating from 1917 to 1918.

It was bought by a Chinese businessman named Liu Yiqian, who paid for it $ 170.4 million in 2015.

5. "Three Studies of Lucian Freud", by Francis Bacon

In 1969 and using the oil on canvas technique, the British painter of Irish origin, Francis Bacon, made a work that consists of a triptych in which the artist Lucian Freud is depicted, with a face that looks disturbing. The work was acquired by Sheikha of Qatar Sheikha Al-Mayassa for $ 142.4 million, in 2013 at an auction.

6. "Number 17A" by Pollack

This is one of the most representative paintings of abstract expressionism in motion, it is a creation of the striking artist, Jason Pollack in 1948 under the oil on canvas technique. The work was purchased in 2015 by investor Kenneth Griffin, for the amount of $ 200 million.

Currently the piece remains in the Art Institute of Chicago, because the new owner donated it to him.

7. "The dream", by Picasso

Pablo Picasso enters this list again. His work "The Dream" was acquired through a private sale in 2013 by investor Steven A. Cohen, who paid $ 115 million. It is a work of oil on canvas that was made in 1932, presenting cubist lines, symbolizing a love story between a young fifteen-year-old named Marie-Thérèse Walter and a 46-year-old Picasso years.

8. "The Scream", by Munch

Perhaps the most relevant and recognized work of the artist Edvard Munch, which was created in 1895 and is considered as an excellent representation of the expressionist movement and has even become a popular cultural icon. It has also been a great source of inspiration for the creations of other artists.

Edvard gives importance to the warm colors placed in the background, while in the sky, the water and the whirlpool, they present orange tones. The landscape and the road have a somewhat dark lighting and the central figure has a warm coloration and its shape is twisted. It was bought in 2012 by 119.9 million dollars.

9. "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer", by Klimt

Also known as "La Dama Dorada" or "La Dama de Oro", it is an elaborate portrait in oil and gold on canvas, combined with a very complex and detailed decoration. Becoming one of the most elaborate paintings of the modernist movement, it was created in 1907 by the artist Gustav Klimt.

The protagonist is a beautiful woman with a flushed face, a discreet look, a reserved posture and a cautious sensuality that invites a quiet lust, which has an elaborate pattern of details inspired by the nature. In 2006 it was sold by $ 135 million to Ronald Lauder, owner of the Neue Galerie in New York City, becoming, at that time, the second most valuable work in the world.

10. "Portrait of Doctor Gachet", by Van Gogh

This portrait was made by the Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, a great representative of Post-Impressionism, and is made with the technique of oil on canvas and dates from the year 1890. The protagonist of this portrait is Dr. Paul Gachet, who was the homeopath who treated Van Gogh and with whom he established a bond of friendship.

Vincent Van Gogh portrays his friend and his doctor seated at a red table with two yellow books, the learned has an expression of inner sadness that not only expresses the feelings of this, but also the Author. The painting has a strong chromatic contrast such as the intense blue of the upper part and the red tone of the table. In 1990 it was sold at auction for 82.5 million dollars, becoming, at that time, the most expensive work in history.

11. "Nafea faa ipoipo", by Gauguin

The Parisian painter Paul Gauguin made this painting in 1892 during his first stay in Tahiti, which he did to separate himself from civilization and be inspired to create an art much more easy. Two Tahitian women are the protagonists of the painting and are sitting on the ground on a plane of simple and colorful colors.

This oil on canvas was acquired through a private sale for a value of $ 210 million in 2015.

12. "Massacre of the Innocents", by Rubens

Painted by artist Peter Paul Rubens in 1610, it is considered one of the most violent works of art in art history. However, it is not surprising, as the painter had a penchant for a bloodier style. It belongs to the style of the Baroque movement and is made using the oil-on-wood technique.

In this painting we can see the bodies of people of different ages, involved in a debauchery of emotions and ferocious movements that undoubtedly scream brutality. It was auctioned in 2002 and acquired by $ 76.7 million by a private collector.