The 6th Most Expensive Painting in the World

It’s a Picasso, again! But, at the halfway point on our list of the World’s Top 10 Most Expensive Paintings, van Gogh still leads, 3-2.

6. “Garçon à la Pipe” by Pablo Picasso, sold in 2004 for $104.2 million. Inflation-adjusted price $118.9 million.
“Garçon à la Pipe” (Boy with a Pipe) was painted in 1905 when Picasso was 24 years old, during his “rose period.“ Picasso started this picture, then gave it a rest period. About a month later he finish it off by placing a garland of flowers on the model’s head. The decorative background reminds us of van Gogh, and there is a contrast between feminine and masculinity in the picture.

The record auction price at the time on May 4, 2004 in Sotheby's was a bit of a surprise to the core art buyers, because it was painted in the style not usually associated with the pioneering Cubist artist.

Many art critics felt the painting's high price had more to do with the artist's name than with its merit or historical importance. A Picasso expert said, "This just shows how much the marketplace is split from the true values of art.” Stay tuned, we’ll keep you posted.

Previous Top-10 Listings:
7. “Irises” by Vincent van Gogh. Read more>
8. “Dora Maar au Chat” by Pablo Picasso. Read more>
9. “Portrait of Joseph Roulin” by Vincent van Gogh. Read more>
10. “Portrait de l’Artiste sans Barbe” by Vincent van Gogh. Read more>

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