What is ART really WORTH?

Question

Klimt's painting (shown) recently set a record for most expensive modern painting sold at auction, according to Sotheby's. What do you think the winning bid was? Please vote in the poll. Correct answer will be give in a few days (Saturday).

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

I went low because i expect modern art to be significantly less expensive, especially if the artist is still alive. Art appreciates with time as those who appreciate the art continue to do so as time goes by. Artists who are very coveted now may very suddenly be completely forgotten.
The answer to your question, generally, is art is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. It’s generally worth more if more than one person is willing to pay a given amount. There’s actually a well known trick based on the latter point, that is used in auctions to artificially drive up bids. In some auctions, that is illegal. I say “buyer beware”. If you only want something more badly because someone else wants it, you probably deserve to be suckered.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

It was $236.4 million.
I just heard about it on NPR tonight when I was driving. They were talking about Frida Kahlo's self-portrait, "El sueño (La cama)" ("The Dream (The Bed)"), selling for $54.7 million at a New York auction on November 20, 2025. This price set a new auction record for a work by a female artist.

RandomGirl42 · Accepted Answer

I picked 450 million just 'cuz that sounds like it would be a lot of fun to play with and if I had that much I wouldn't be buying dumb paintings like that and also I asked your question to AI 'cuz I'm Gen Z and that's what we do. 😊

So what is art really worth?
Probably this:

Art is worth whatever it makes possible—emotionally, culturally, economically, personally.
And often, the moment you try to measure it, you miss the point.

If you want, tell me why you’re asking—are you thinking about buying art, valuing your own creations, or questioning the entire system?

purplepoppy · Accepted Answer

I'm going to guess it's one of the 2 higher figures but not sure which. I confess I'm one of those that looks in art shop windows and screams, "how feckin much for that piece of crap, I could do better drunk."

Cinematic Lily · Accepted Answer

The record-breaking sale of Gustav Klimt's "Portrait of Elisabeth Lederer" is a testament to the immense value placed on art, especially from renowned artists. While I don't have the exact figure, knowing Klimt's reputation and auction trends, it's reasonable to speculate that the winning bid reached into the hundreds of millions. Certain artworks transcend their canvases, embodying history, culture, and artistry, making them priceless to collectors and institutions. 🎨💸

Natasha1995 · Answer

It's worth what someone is willing to pay. If you're very wealthy, whatever price it goes for will be pocket money for the buyer. In most situations, two people bidding against each other will drive up the price, as there's an emotional aspect that comes into play.

Straight2thepoint · Answer

The paper their on. Art is "cool" . But if you want to talk about art. Till have to look into the past. When they use to be coded, speaking to you, not this crap that people make. Oh wow buildings in a scrappy style... ooooohh aaaaa.

OneViewpoint · Answer

Art like anything else is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay at any given moment. Some people have more money than brains. Some people have insecurities that are easily exploited by luxury branding business models. Some of us laugh at those people.

Mikeyyy999 · Answer

I don't know, but the fact something that looks like the result of a three year old throwing paint around going for many thousands or a million plus dollars while I can turn a gob of clay into something that looks like it crawled out of a national geographic magazine for and only get peanuts is absolute bull****

docster · Answer

If someone gave it to me I'd probably throw it in the trash.

Staximus · Answer

At least it was a painting done by somebody with talent and not another atrocity by the talentless hack Jackson Pollock. You could train a chimpanzee to paint like Jackson Pollock.

888theGreat · Answer

I have lots of Art. Originals , limited prints, oils, water colors, etc. Maybe 3000 . My best is $75,000 (est) and one $30,000 (last sell at Auction)

unless I have some worth more and don;t know it. My Picassos are not worth much. I have a nice Dali. One was once in a Museum. I am part owner of Andy Warhol's 1967 Flowers.

exitseven · Answer

Art like everything else is only worth what somebody will pay for it.

DJB72 · Answer

It's worth and it's value are very different numbers

genericname85 · Answer

I wouldn't pay for this cause it literally has no value to me.

FreyaRed · Answer

Art is a scam and it's difficult to estimate the money laundry schema there but I guess 16 million. 1,2 million is practically coffee fund in yacht cantina among rich people

Cidknee · Answer

I'd say $9.99 at Walmart. Paint by numbers, I like doing that too!

DryGermanGuy · Answer

I voted for the lowest amount, because, quite frankly, anything more sounds obscene.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Well art is an investment. It will increase in value while those little bits of paper you increasingly don't bother to carry around in your pocket will do the opposite.

katiesmuff · Answer

I wouldn't pay anything for it!

Xawyx-2 · Answer

I voted A, but I really don't know.

Jennz6 · Answer

Zero

strateguy632 · Answer

For that? 100,000 tops.

MemeSupreme · Answer

whatever answer it is will hurt me lol

jamesgoldman · Answer

A fraction of the value placed upon it

What is ART really WORTH?

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