At $119 million, 'The Scream' is world's most expensive painting

Edvard Munch's iconic painting 'The Scream', considered one of the most recognisable in art world, was sold for over $119 million (Rs 630 crore), creating a new record for the highest price ever paid for a work of art at any auction. The painting, depicting image of a man holding his head and his mouth wide open, was sold for $119,922,500, which includes the premium paid to Sotheby's at the auction held in New York on Wednesday.

Munch painted the first of four versions of The Scream in 1893.

He later wrote a poem describing the apocalyptic vision behind it:


Munch’s horrific Great Scream in Nature is combined in the video with Floyd’s otherworldly “The Great Gig in the Sky,” one of the signature pieces from the band’s 1973 masterpiece, Dark Side of the Moon. The vocals on “The Great Gig” were performed by an unknown young songwriter and session singer named Clare Torry.

Torry had been invited by producer Alan Parsons to come to Abbey Road Studios and improvise over a haunting piano chord progression by Richard Wright, on a track that was tentatively called “The Mortality Sequence.” The 25-year-old singer was given very little direction from the band. “Clare came into the studio one day,” said bassist Roger Waters in a 2003 Rolling Stone interview, “and we said, ‘There’s no lyrics. It’s about dying — have a bit of a sing on that, girl.'”

Forty-two years later, that “bit of a sing” can still send a shiver down anyone’s spine. For more on the making of “The Great Gig in the Sky,” and Torry’s amazing contribution, see the clip below from the 2003 documentary, Classic Albums: Pink Floyd — The Making of The Dark Side of the Moon. Afterward, scroll farther down to hear Torry’s story in her own words.

Don't Forget to Like Us below on Facebook for More Updates