''Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)'' is a 1963
serigraph
Screen printing is a printing technique where a mesh is used to transfer ink (or dye) onto a substrate, except in areas made impermeable to the ink by a blocking stencil. A blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill the open mesh ...
by the American artist
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...
. In November 2013, it sold for $105 million (£65.5m) at NYC auction, setting a new highest price for a work by Warhol.
History
''Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)'' depicts a body twisted in the mangled interior of a silver car. It was printed by
Andy Warhol
Andy Warhol (; born Andrew Warhola Jr.; August 6, 1928 – February 22, 1987) was an American visual artist, film director, and producer who was a leading figure in the visual art movement known as pop art. His works explore the relationsh ...
at the age of 35. It is the last serigraph of the artist that was left in private hands. The serigraph measures and was displayed only once in public during the last 26 years. The work was part of his ''Death and Disaster'' series.
The art
masterpiece
A masterpiece, ''magnum opus'' (), or ''chef-d’œuvre'' (; ; ) in modern use is a creation that has been given much critical praise, especially one that is considered the greatest work of a person's career or a work of outstanding creativity, ...
was held by a European collector for 20 years. In November 2013, five bidders fought for the serigraph in an auction of contemporary art works organized by
Sotheby's
Sotheby's () is a British-founded American multinational corporation with headquarters in New York City. It is one of the world's largest brokers of fine and decorative art, jewellery, and collectibles. It has 80 locations in 40 countries, and ...
, bringing the final price to $105 million, not only surpassing its estimate of $60-80 million but also breaking the previous auction record for a Warhol serigraph: ''
Eight Elvises'' that last auctioned at $100 million. The name of the winning bidder was never publicly disclosed.
See also
* ''
Eight Elvises''
*
List of most expensive paintings
This is a list of the highest known prices paid for paintings. The current record price is approximately US$450.3 million (which includes commission), paid for Leonardo da Vinci's ''Salvator Mundi'' (). The painting was sold in November 2017, t ...
References
1963 paintings
Paintings by Andy Warhol
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