Frida Kahlo’s “El sueño” Set to Break Records at Auction

Frida Kahlo’s painting, “El sueño (La cama),” is poised to make history at auction, with estimates suggesting it could sell for between $40 million and $60 million. If achieved, this sale would establish a new record for the highest price ever paid for a work by a female or Latin American artist. The painting will be auctioned by Sotheby’s in New York on November 20, 2023, after being showcased in cities such as London, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Leading Mexican art historian Helena Chávez Mac Gregor commented on the significance of this moment, stating, “This is a moment of a lot of speculation.” Mac Gregor is a researcher at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and the author of “El listón y la bomba. El arte de Frida Kahlo.” In Mexico, Kahlo’s works are protected by a declaration of artistic monument, meaning they cannot be sold or destroyed within the country. However, this painting, which is part of a private collection abroad, is eligible for international sale.

Artistic Significance and Historical Context

Created in 1940 after Kahlo’s visit to Paris, “El sueño (La cama)” reflects her encounter with the surrealist movement. Contrary to popular belief, the skull depicted on the bed’s canopy is not a traditional Day of the Dead skeleton but rather a Judas figure, symbolizing the purification and triumph of good over evil. The effigy is typically lit with gunpowder during Easter, representing Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus.

The painting’s intricate details include firecrackers and flowers adorning the skeleton, echoing a cardboard figure that Kahlo kept above her own bed. “Kahlo spent a lot of time in bed waiting for death,” noted Mac Gregor, highlighting the artist’s ongoing struggles with health issues throughout her life.

While Kahlo’s work will be sold alongside pieces from renowned surrealists like Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, she distanced herself from the movement. Although she met surrealist founder André Breton in Mexico and participated in an exhibition he organized in Paris in 1939, Kahlo viewed surrealism as a bourgeois concept. Mac Gregor explained, “Frida always had a critical distance from that,” despite the surreal elements present in her work that reflect dreamlike imagery and inner worlds.

The Future of Kahlo’s Work and Market Trends

“El sueño (La cama)” has not been publicly exhibited since the 1990s, and following the auction, it may once again vanish from public view—a fate that many high-priced artworks face. The most notable exception is “Diego y yo” (“Diego and I”), which set a record for Kahlo’s works when it sold for $34.9 million in 2021. This painting, which depicts Kahlo and her husband, muralist Diego Rivera, was acquired by Argentine businessman Eduardo Costantini and is currently on loan to the Museum of Latin American Art in Buenos Aires.

Art historian Cuauhtémoc Medina expressed concern over the trend of high-priced artworks becoming mere financial investments. He lamented that many pieces are relegated to tax-free zones to avoid costs, potentially leading to them being stored for extended periods. “Their fate may be worse; they may end up in a refrigerator at Frankfurt airport for decades to come,” he noted.

The current record for a painting by a female artist belongs to Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1,” which fetched $44.4 million at Sotheby’s in 2014. As the auction market continues to evolve, the disparity between male and female artists remains stark, as no female artist has yet surpassed the sale price of the highest-selling male artist. The current benchmark stands at $450.3 million for “Salvator Mundi,” attributed to Leonardo da Vinci, which was sold by Christie’s in 2017.

With the auction of “El sueño (La cama)” approaching, the art world eagerly anticipates the outcome, which could reshape the historical narrative surrounding female artists and their market value.