Rene Magritte’s Masterpiece Sells for $121 Million at Christie’s New York Auction

René Magritte’s iconic painting, L’empire des lumières (“The Empire of Light”), has been sold for a record-breaking $121 million at Christie’s New York auction, surpassing the starting bid of $95 million. Created in 1954, this piece is one of Magritte’s 27 major works and is regarded as one of the finest examples of 20th-century art.

The painting, which depicts a surreal and brightly lit street scene, was once owned by designer Mika Artygen, whose collection featured this masterpiece as its crown jewel. In addition to The Empire of Light, two other Magritte paintings, La cour d’amour and La Mémoire, were also sold for $10.53 million and $3.68 million, respectively.