Many of the world’s most renowned artists died without the fame and fortune now associated with their names, but that is not the case for David Hockney.

Christie’s in New York announced yesterday that it was selling Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures), a 1972 work, and they believe that it’s going to shatter the record for the most valuable work of art by a living artist sold at auction.

Just how much? Christie’s estimates that the painting will sell for somewhere in the region of $80 million (around R1,18 billion).

Reportedly owned by Joe Lewis, the Bahamas-based billionaire and owner of Tottenham Hotspur, it should comfortably surpass the paltry $58 million (around R850 million) Jeff Koons got for his stainless steel Balloon Dog (Orange) back in 2013.

This Balloon Dog:

The mind boggles.

Let’s find out more about Hockney and his work via the Guardian:

The 1972 work, set against a gorgeous, green, hilly landscape, shows a man swimming underwater in the pool watched by another man, Hockney’s ex-boyfriend Peter Schlesinger.

Rotter said: “David Hockney’s brilliance as an artist is on full display with this monumental canvas, which encapsulates the essence of the idealised poolside landscape, and the tremendous complexity that exists within human relationships.

“With this painting, Hockney cemented his placement within the realm of history’s most venerated artists, and come November it is poised to become the most valuable work of art by a living artist ever sold at auction.”

I’m going to go ahead and be that person – no painting, even one of a man underwater in his rods whilst another man watches on, is worth $80 million.

Attending a dinner party this weekend and want to sound fancy? Remember the phrase “tremendous complexity that exists within human relationships”, and drop that in whilst sipping on a glass of red.

Perhaps you need to see the painting in the flesh, like this woman, to really appreciate it:

Sorry, I just don’t get it.

Anyway, I will bow out with this, which might help others figure it out.

[source:guardian]