Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — sold Wednesday for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City.

[KoKo]

NEW YORK (AP) — One of the art world's most recognizable images — Edvard Munch's "The Scream" — sold Wednesday for a record $119,922,500 at auction in New York City.

The 1895 artwork — a modern symbol of human anxiety — was sold at Sotheby's. Neither the buyer's name nor any details about the buyer was released.

The previous record for an artwork sold at auction was $106.5 million for Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves, and Bust," sold by Christie's in 2010.

Munch's image of a man holding his head and screaming under a streaked, blood-red sky is one of four versions by the Norwegian expressionist painter. The auctioned piece at Sotheby's is the only one left in private hands.

The image has become part of pop culture, "used by everyone from Warhol to Hollywood to cartoons to teacups and T-shirts," said Michael Frahm of the London-based art advisory service firm Frahm Ltd. "Together with the Mona Lisa, it's the most famous and recognized image in art history."

A buzz swept through the room when the artwork was presented for auction as two guards stood watch on either side. Bidding started at $40 million with seven buyers jumping into the competition early.

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[fascisthunter]

1. ridiculous

and yes, I'm an artist... spending THAT much on a fucking painting?! No painting is worth THAT much... no fucking way. People are insane...

[sabrina 1]

2. I think the bidding started around $80 million. OWS joined some of the Sotheby workers in a protest

against the anti-Union practices of Sotheby's who held the auction. I have not checked today on what happened with that, but there have been many demonstrations against Sotheby's recently regarding their anti-labor, 'hire cheap labor' practices. It is obscene to think of how much money they make, while refusing to pay their workers a livable wage.

Thanks for the post KoKo

[mdmc]

3. always interested in art

thanks for the post

[undeterred]

4. That makes me want to scream.

[Live and Learn]

5. Now we know why Munch was screaming. He gets none of it. nt

[thelordofhell]

6. Mitt Romney is hanging it in his bathroom

[Generic Other]

7. Why does Yahoo always have such long URLs?

I want to read an article, not fall into the Matrix!!

[msongs]

8. when I get it nicely framed I will invite you all over to see it nt

[bluesbassman]

9. Who knew? Progressive cop AND a painter.

[KoKo]

10. If I had the Money....I'd have bought it myself! n/t