Klimt painting sets auction record

A portrait by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt, titled Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer, has sold at Sotheby’s in New York for $236.4 million (≈ €204 million), making it the second-most expensive artwork ever sold at auction.

The record-breaking sale took place during a high-profile evening auction featuring works by Matisse, Munch, Picasso and Van Gogh alongside several other Klimt pieces.

Beyond its artistic significance, the sale underscores a growing trend: fine art as a tangible store of value. In an era of low yields and global uncertainty, blue-chip artworks are attracting investors seeking both prestige and portfolio diversification. Yet experts caution that art remains a high-risk, illiquid asset with steep entry and holding costs – a market where beauty and volatility often coexist.

                                                                                                                                     SK