Two of the most expensive photographs ever sold are Edward Steichen’s “The Flatiren,” which depicts the famous building in New York, and Peter Lik’s “Phantom,” which depicts a ghostly figure in Arizona’s Antelope Canyon. These photos have sold for big bucks because they are super special and capture great moments in history.
Top 10 most expensive photos ever sold
Many people consider photography as their favorite hobby or career. While most people post their photos on social media, and those pictures are really good, they will sell for high prices. Do you want to know about the photo and how much it cost?
Read this article to get information about the most expensive photos ever sold. Each image includes information about what it shows, who took it, and why it’s special. You will also know about the period when these pictures were taken and the reasons why people think they are worth millions. You will also learn why certain types of images are famous and most popular.
Flatiron Building (1904) – $11,800,000
- Title: The Iron (1904) by Edward Steichen
- Artist: Edward Steichen (1879 – 1973)
- Date of recording: 1904
- Media: Printing in three colors in halftone
- Dimensions (cm): 21 x 16
- Sale date: November 10, 2022
Image source: Flatiron Building by Edward Steichen
The Flatiron Building, completed in 1902, quickly became one of New York’s most popular landmarks. Popular photographers Edward Steichen and Alfred Stieglitz drew the photographs. Their main motive is to portray the beauty that appears in the picture in the best possible way. In this painting, Steichen colored the platinum print with a mixture of potassium bichromate and gum arabic, creating a pictorial style reminiscent of Japanese woodcuts and James McNeill Whistler’s Nocturne paintings.
The picture was clicked from the west of Madison Square Park. This led to a bunch of prints being made in colors like tan, blue and orange. These prints show something very American, but with a special artistic touch.
Phantom (1999) – $6,500,000
- Title: Phantom (1999) by Peter Lik
- Artist: Peter Lik
- Date of recording: 1999
- Medium: color photograph
- Date of sale: November 2014
Image source: Peter Lik’s Phantom
Peter Lik’s favorite place to photograph is in the southwestern United States, particularly Antelope Canyon in Arizona, shaped by the natural flow of water over millions of years. “Phantom” was filmed in an underground cave, presenting a striking black-and-white depiction of the ghostly figure.
Lik, who comes from Australia, has dedicated more than 30 years to photographing and sharing the most beautiful locations in the world. Despite his success and numerous awards, there are controversies surrounding his work, especially regarding the sale of “Phantom”.
Lika’s art is often sold in tourist centers like Maui and Las Vegas, attracting buyers without a strong art background but with disposable income who see his prints as an easy way to enter the art market.
Rhein II (1999) – $4,338,500
- Title: Rhein II (1999) by Andreas Gurski
- Artist: Andreas Gursky
- Date of recording: 1999
- Medium: C-print mounted on acrylic glass
- Dimensions (cm): 190 x 360
- Sale date: November 8, 2011
Image source: Rhein II by Andreas Gurski
Andreas Gursky also known as “Rhein II” painted one of the segments of the Rhine River near Düsseldorf, Germany. This famous image shows a fairly simple image of a straight length of water, but it actually shows an abstract arrangement of horizontal bands in different kinds of colors.
The scene is completely divided by the horizon line and gives a continuous, smooth river surrounded by green grass below and a blue-gray sky above. Gursky does not create imaginary images with his use of digital technology; rather, it increases the representation of the real environment.
Untitled #96 (1981) – $3,890,500
- Title: Untitled #96 (1981) by Cindy Sherman
- Artist: Cindy Sherman
- Date of recording: 1981
- Medium: Photography
- Date of sale: May 2011
- Price: $3,890,500
Image Source: Untitled #96 (1981) by Cindy Sherman
Cindy Sherman’s “Untitled #96” is a kind of special painting that she took when she was 27 years old. In the picture, she is lying on the ground, wearing a checkered skirt and an orange sweater. She is holding a shredded piece of newspaper and her expression, attentive or sad, is directed towards the camera.
She took this picture in 1981 for Artforum magazine, but it was never published. But it later gained great fame and was sold in 2011 for around $3.9 million. Since she took a photo of herself, some have called it the most expensive selfie ever. This image is available in other copies; in 2012, one of them brought in $2.88 million.
Twin Flames #49 NFT (2021) – $3,781,159
- Title: Twin Flames #49 NFT (2021) by Justin Aversano
- Artist: Justin Aversano
- Date of recording: 2021
- Medium: digital photo/NFT
- Sale date: 2022
- Price: 871 ETH (approx. USD 3,781,159)
Image Source: Twin Flames #49 NFT (2021) by Justin Aversanov
“Twin Flames #49” is a digital painting drawn by Justin Aversano’s collection titled Twin Flames. He recorded a total of 100 pairs of twins. Aversano is a popular American artist, he also helps organize Save Art Space. He believes that art can make people feel better and that it is more important than just making money.
This unique photo is the most important because it probably shows Alyson and Courtney Aliano, so they were twins. In the picture, Alyson is standing next to a mirror, looking sad as if she is missing her sister. In 2022, the photo was sold as a special digital item called NFT. It was sold for 871 ETH, which is about $3.78 million. A small portion of the money went to help new artists through the Raw Doa Treasury.
To Her Majesty (1973) – $3,749,000
- Title: To Her Majesty (1973) by Gilbert and George
- Artists: Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore
- Date of recording: 1973
- Medium: Black and white photographs
- Date of sale: June 2008
- Price: £1,889,250 (approx $3,767,950 at the time)
Image source: To Her Majesty (1973) by Gilbert and George
“To Her Majesty” by Gilbert and George is a stack of black and white images on an overlaid white background. Gilbert Proesch and George Passmore, generally called Gilbert and George, many people think of themselves as one artist, but they are two people.
They met while studying sculpture in London in 1967 and started working together. “To Her Majesty” is the main part of their Drinking Sculptures project, where they took 37 paintings in the Balls Brothers wine bar in London in the 1970s.
These images look blurry, broken and messed up on purpose to convey what it feels like to be drunk. The art sold at Christie’s London in June 2008 for £1,889,250, which was more than they thought it would sell for, showing just how special their art was.
Untitled Cowboy (1998) – $3,749,000
- Title: Untitled Cowboy (1998) by Richard Prince
- Artist: Richard Prince (1949 – present)
- Date of recording: 1998
- Medium: Ektacolor photo
- Dimensions (cm): 181 x 271
- Sale date: May 12, 2014
- Price: $3,749,000
Image source: Untitled Cowboy (1998) by Richard Prince
Richard Prince’s “Untitled Cowboy” is part of his Cowboy collection, which he began publishing in the 1980s. In this collection, Prince rephotographs an image from American popular culture, depicting the legendary Marlboro Man on his cowboy journey.
The picture of the unnamed cowboy shows him wearing his cool cowboy hat, leather pants and boots, trying to tame a crazy black horse in the desert. Prince’s aims to highlight the cowboy as a symbol of American culture. The photograph was sold at Christie’s auction in New York in May 2012 for $3,749,000, which is within the estimated price range of $3,000,000 to $4,000,000.
Dead Troops Talk (1992) – $3,666,500
- Title: Dead Troops Speak (1992) by Jeff Wall
- Artist: Jeff Wall (1946-present)
- Date of recording: 1992
- Medium: color photograph
- Dimensions (cm): 229 x 417
- Sale date: May 8, 2012
- Price: $3,666,500
Image source: Dead Troops Speak (1992) by Jeff Wall
“Dead Troops Talk” by Jeff Wall shows the scene of the war in Afghanistan. Although it looks like an original photograph, the Wall actually makes a scene like a movie. It is about the attack of the Mujahideen on the Soviet soldiers of the Red Army.
The wall stages it with models and lights to make it look like a picture of war. The images evoke a sense of death, sadness and hopelessness as all the Soviet soldiers look dead or dying, while in the background you can see the attackers. This painting sold for a lot of money, $3,666,500, at an auction in New York in May 2012. It should have sold for less, between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000.
Untitled Cowboy (2000) – $3,525,000
- Title: Untitled Cowboy (2000) by Richard Prince
- Artist: Richard Prince
- Date of recording: 2000
- Medium: Photography
- Price: $3,525,000
Image source: Untitled Cowboy (2000) by Richard Prince
Richard Prince’s “Cowboy With No Name” is part of his Cowboy series, depicting the famous Marlboro Man, a symbol of American culture. Just like his other photos in this series, Prince changes the real ad photo, removing all the words and focusing on some main parts.
In this picture you see many cowboys in different positions among the trees. The trees look like shadows on the yellowish ground and purple sky. The gentle colors of the sunset make the scene peaceful and calm. This photograph sold at auction in New York for $3,525,000, slightly more than what people thought it would sell for, which was between $2,500,000 and $3,500,000.
Untitled Cowboy (2001-2002) – $3,401,000
- Title: Untitled Cowboy (2001-2002) by Richard Prince
- Artist: Richard Prince
- Date of recording: 2001-2002
- Medium: Photography
- Price: $3,401,000
Image source: Untitled Cowboy (2000) by Richard Prince
Richard Prince’s “Cowboy With No Name” is another photograph of the Marlboro Man, whom he often paints. In this one you see a silhouette of a cowboy holding a lasso while sitting on a fence.
He wears a typical cowboy outfit with boots and a hat. Behind him, the sky appears to be on fire with shades of orange and yellow, making a stark contrast to the gray silhouette of the cowboy. This photograph was sold at an auction in New York for $3,401,000. That’s way more than what people thought it would sell for, between $1,500,000 and $2,000,000.
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Categories: General
Source: HIS Education