Art has always been part of human life, and people tend to surround themselves with beauty. Music, embroidery, sculpture, lacemaking and dance have all played their part, but for centuries society favoured painters above all. The best of them could use nothing more than an ordinary brush to faithfully capture all kinds of events and famous figures of their time, and give the canvas emotions that people still admire in galleries today. In this article, we introduce the most famous paintings in the world, which you certainly cannot buy just like that.
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The most famous paintings in the world
When you think of a famous painting, one of the first that comes to mind is probably da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or perhaps van Gogh’s Sunflowers. You can admire these and other paintings in the best-known galleries in the world. But what determines a painting’s fame and price?
Masterpieces of incredible value were created in every historical period and in every artistic style. The price of a painting depends on many factors, including its cultural and historical context, its role, and its artist. The better known and more respected the artist, the more valuable their works. The greatest value lies in original paintings, not copies or reproductions. If, for example, you buy or find a work that you think might be highly valuable, the best place to start is to have an expert verify its authenticity.
If you have ever visited a gallery of modern art, you have probably looked at certain works and thought that you could do something similar yourself. But that is exactly the point. Perhaps you could, but you did not think of it. It is originality that adds to a work’s value.
Would you like a famous work of art in your living room? Then be aware that you will have to save, and save a lot. Prices of paintings by the best-known artists reach dizzying heights. The most famous paintings in the world sell for hundreds of millions of dollars. Let us now look at 10 of them.
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Salvator Mundi (Leonardo da Vinci)
Salvator Mundi was painted between 1499 and 1510, and its artist was none other than the famous Leonardo da Vinci. As you can see in the picture, the central motif is Jesus dressed in Renaissance clothing with his hand raised in the typical sign of the cross.
Today, the painting would cost more than an incredible 490 million dollars.
Interchange (Willem de Kooning)
If you know about modern art, you will certainly know the expressionist Willem de Kooning. He completed his most famous work in 1955. It is worth more than 340 million dollars.
In the video, you can see another three of de Kooning’s most important works.
The Card Players (Paul Cézanne)
The Card Players is undoubtedly Cézanne’s best-known series of paintings, from 1892 to 1893. In it, he realistically depicts the beauty of completely ordinary people playing cards at a wooden table in a pub. When you look at the painting, you feel as if you were in the pub with them, watching them up close.
The painting is currently worth more than 300 million dollars.
Nafea Faa Ipoipo (Paul Gauguin)
The painting Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When will you marry?) was painted in 1892 by the French post-impressionist painter Paul Gauguin. At first glance, it is clear that its subject is not Parisian ladies but native women of Tahiti. In his work, he explored the question of colonialism and indigenous culture. The painting costs 240 million dollars.
If you would like to know how the theme of Tahiti found its way into Gauguin’s paintings, watch the following video.
Number 17A (Jackson Pollock)
In 1948, the American Jackson Pollock painted a picture called Number 17A. As the title suggests, it is modern art, specifically in the style of abstract expressionism. Watch the following video to understand Pollock’s artistic intention. Even modern art that seemingly makes no sense can inspire and delight you.
The painting’s price is estimated at just under 230 million dollars.
Wasserschlangen II (Gustav Klimt)
You have surely heard of the fascinating Austrian artist Gustav Klimt. He is best known for incorporating gold elements into his paintings.
He completed one of his best-known works, Wasserschlangen II, in 1907. Today it is worth more than 210 million dollars. You can also admire Klimt’s paintings in galleries and museums, including some in the Czech Republic.
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No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red) (Mark Rothko)
When you look at Rothko’s painting No. 6, you will surely have exactly the thought from the introduction: that you could paint something similar in a few minutes too. Yet the painting’s price is staggering, more than 210 million dollars!
If you want to better understand Rothko’s work and make sense of it, watch the following video.
Pendant portraits of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit (Rembrandt)
If anything is typical of Rembrandt, it is dark portraits and self-portraits. The way he works with light and shadow is simply fascinating. These two paintings, which he painted in 1634, show two figures, a man and a woman, namely Marten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit at their wedding. Although he painted them separately, they still belong together today.
Together, the two paintings are currently worth roughly 206 million dollars.
Women of Algiers (Pablo Picasso)
The painting Les Femmes d’Alger , or Women of Algiers, was painted between 1954 and 1955 by the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso, who is best known for his cubist style. This is the style in which the work was painted. There are several versions of this important painting. Version O is worth roughly 205 million dollars.
The Standard Bearer (Rembrandt)
The last work on this list is another painting by Rembrandt, this time a self-portrait with the English title The Standard Bearer, which shows the artist standing with one hand on his hip. Once again, the work with light is perfect. The oil painting was completed in 1936 and its price is just under 200 million dollars.
Of course, the list of famous and important paintings does not end with these ten. Not only did each of the painters mentioned create more works, but there is also a huge number of other artists in the world who are no less important. So take a look at the extended list of the most expensive paintings.
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