Child-like Painting by Joan Miró Sold for $37 Million: Fact Check

Story: 

I just want to tell you that this painting (Etoile Bleue) was sold for $37 million.

Other Versions

1. This “child-like” painting by Joan Miró was sold for $37 million.

2. This painting was sold for 37 million USD
I just realised I was an artist in kindergarten

3. This Spanish artist’s painting sells for $37 million.

Fact Check:

Most of you might have come across the “child-like” painting at least once online, also the claims that it was sold for $37 million, wondering whether it is a fact or not, and as to why in case it is true. Yes, the simple painting Etoile Bleue by famous Spanish artist Joan Miró was in fact sold for a record price of $37 million, but as described below the high price has its reasons.

Back in June 2012 the Joan Miro’s painting “Peinture (Etoile Bleue)” was sold at Sotheby’s auction house in London for 23.56 million pounds (around $37 million), a record price for a work by the Spanish artist. To some the painting might appear like a kindergarten drawing. However, the high price can be attributed to the popularity of the artist Joan Miro. It is also related to the demand for ‘Modern Art’ and other associated factors.

The 1927 piece of art, signed and dated by the artist Joan Miró, was part of an extensive auction-sale of Impressionist and Abstract Art, which also included works by Picasso, Kandinsky, Bonnard, Monet, Giacometti and De Chirico. Significantly, Joan Miro (1893-1983) described the Peinture (Etoile Bleue) painting as a “key” turning point in his artistic career, which influenced his art and ‘dream paintings’ cycle that became popular in later years. The intense blue shades of the painting also influenced the style of other painters like Mark Rothko (1903-1970) and Yves Klein (1928-1962). The video below explains briefly the significance of the Miro’s paining at Sotheby’s auction house.

The Etoile Bleue painting was formerly owned by Andre Lefevre. He was a prominent collector of 20th century art, and the painting was bought by an unnamed telephone bidder.

Hoax or Fact:

Fact with Some Missing Information.

References:

Joan Miró’s ‘Étoile Bleue’ to Lead Sotheby’s Impressionist and Modern Art Sale
Miro Painting Sells for Record $37 Million