Mark Rothko's 'Orange, Red, Yellow' | 2012 World Auction Record

On 8 May 2012 Mark Rothko's Orange, Red, Yellow sold for $86,882,500 in our New York Post-War and Contemporary Art Evening Sale, becoming the most expensive contemporary work of art and a setting a world auction record for Mark Rothko.

[@caseycreations585]

These guys are on the phone with the most powerful people in the world and can't even talk casually with them- damn.

[@glenncambray626]

What we want to see is a Monty Python take on this. The opening price is 86, 000,000 and nobody wants to buy it, and then, in reverse, the auctioneer keeps reducing the price with still no buyers. Eventually, it comes down to zero and then the Auction house itself has to actually start bidding out prices for how much they will pay someone to take it away.Cleese, of course, is the auctioneer.

[@adriancook7078]

Brilliant. It would also show up the tragic made waste of money on all this garbage

[@kingk2405]

They are called Dutch auctions . They sell their tulips like that , it is a tricky auction because the first who thinks it is a reasonable price and go for it get it .

[@adriancook7078]

@Melanie Jarrett Yes ! Yes ?

[@derekrushton7992]

King K I don’t think you know the definition of a Dutch auction, yet another KZbin moron

[@lindamon5101]

Great ideal lol

[@pritishtardalkar338]

Jussi went on to auction the Salvator Mundi

[@JeffersonDinedAlone]

That is the beauty of the arts; there is no "best", there is only personal preference.

[@afriendtoo6971]

They can afford these paintings after Trump gave them tax breaks,...

[@edwardharley9]

@@afriendtoo6971 derangement here too???? , you sad sick lefties...

[@bandicoot5412]

During his life, Van Gogh sold some of his works for less than the worth of the canvas. Monet did well in his latter years. Ce'zaane had some inheritance money, and just started to get recognition late in life. All of them changed the course of mighty rivers.

[@NickPenlee]

"The Red Vineyard At Arles" is the only painting sold during Van Gogh's lifetime the name of which we actually know, and that was "officially" recorded and acknowledged by the art world!

[@ronieabror8641]

Those two girls just left the chat on 50 million bid

[@MichaelChengSanJose]

Watching this in 2024, just amazing to see these bids in 2012. Inflation adjusted, it’s like seeing $160M-180M bids being tossed about.

[@thhomasmarks]

This record high bid, also coincided with a collective Guinness World Record for, "Most Starch Ever to have been used to Stiffen a Group of Gentlemen's Shirts."

[@coeight235]

it's so strange seeing pylkkänen on the telephones...

[@itsmesia2469]

...

[@liamsbackyard2635]

Was just thinking this! Everyone’s got to work their way up, though. Now he’s global president overseeing every major sale

[@tonywalton1052]

I'd like it more with a smiley face, in the middle.

[@treyshawnbeats]

😂

[@vincentmancini6279]

Now is the time to buy that Monets, Vincents', etc.

[@robertschlesinger1342]

Amazing!

[@ted.8631]

this is nuts

[@user-nz4yd3iu4t]

멋찝니다~~~

[@shawnt7289]

The one phone guy lost his poker face and looked like he wanted give him a friendly competition love tap with the phone .

[@mourneswanderer1767]

Certainly crazy money. Emotionally charged art though.

[@stereotypea123]

I need Andy Daly to play Yusi

[@jamesgo2014]

How can a simple paint cost so much.

[@Boss-qv8oy]

If Mark had been representing Kenny Powers, he wouldv'e gotten the required 78mil.

[@KevinEontrainer381]

it looks like the background for yugioh card

[@squamish4244]

It's a canvas with orange, red and yellow lines drawn across it, and it sells for WHAT?!? Yes and the artist has been dead for 50 years too. Explains a lot.

[@ethansancti2864]

Billionaires are not purchasing arts. They are purchasing assets and investments that provide them exclusivity and prestige at the same time.

[@tonywalton1052]

You are so smart. Pats you on head

[@melclo3641]

More money than bloody sense

[@dmburke007]

$85 millions for a red canvas with two squares!!! you got to be kidding!!!!!

[@jayjaytornea7132]

My budget was $50

[@pjacobsen1000]

Seems a little high, as most of his paintings are in the 20-60 million bracket.

[@oltedders]

Some of his work isn't incredibly boring...some of it.

[@aspiknf]

@@oltedders All of it

[@RobBoon1967]

What am I missing?

[@GhostOfSpartAAA]

$78 million.

[@RobBoon1967]

@@GhostOfSpartAAAnice one😂😂

[@Sa_tycker_jag]

I wonder what it would be "worth" today.

[@etienne7774]

Let's say you have to pay 80 mil tax or buy painting. That is the only viable explanation for this.

[@holly52ful]

Honestly, we’re all saying,” I can paint that” I cannot figure the art here? When I see that past artist that changed the world, now this comes along? Somebody convince me the genius in this??

[@xTwistedFleshX]

Morons like you have absolutely zero idea the amount of work that goes into works like Rothko's. The insane amount of underpainting, the layering, canvas preparation, etc. Go back to your 9 to 5 and soap operas.

[@KayInMaine]

Seems to me these bidders only get in when the price reaches a number they need to launder their money clean. That's why one of the bidders got into the action @ $70 million.

[@Jack-pp2ng]

Millionaires have absolutely ruined the art world, it's not about the art it's about the value and the value isn't even based on your own opinion it's based on what all the other rich people believe . Sad

[@edwardharley9]

sad ...you think so.. the art was never destroyed it is still as glorious as ever...

[@kieranflynn7582]

Only money laundering

[@tobybartlett]

I often wonder if the staff on the phones are even speaking with the buyer directly-or-if they are speaking to their art advisor; who has been given a price ceiling they can bid up to… With how ridiculous billionaires are, I can see them not even being on the phone to spend $100 million (which is a days earnings to some of these people), and relegating this to one of the many people that manage their affairs for them.

[@kitrichardson2165]

what a brilliant painting. Not only did he use reds in orange, but there were actually yellow stripes thrown in as well. Genius! 🙄

[@aslanersoy8970]

😁😂🤣

[@giuseppeesposito3718]

Nemmeno regalato......

[@akshayd211]

Why in the world would someone pay so much for that?

[@lindamon5101]

Bcz they can.

[@chancebronson9375]

Pilot fish

[@areebanwar9229]

Russian billionaires are resilient

[@grahamnancledra7036]

Obscene.

[@bobbynicole10]

deleted scene from Idiocracy

[@Gauravshcl]

Bought by Putin

[@ted.8631]

is this a joke?

[@mourneswanderer1767]

Definitely no joke!...........

[@binghamguevara6814]

Disgusting! Seconds become millions. The perverted rich.

[@jinalawi3934]

Junk

[@Albert-me1oe]

Stupid society we live in.

[@andrewfulache6903]

Billllionaires want this kind of art because by viewing at it it fills up their emptiness inside ..Theres.a satisfying moment deep within himself..

[@aaronwilliams943]

@@andrewfulache6903 these auctions have nothing to do with art. for billionaires these are merely assets.

[@aspiknf]

All these people on the phone for an incompetent who painted rectangles.

[@aspiknf]

Not even worth one dollar. Michelangelo, Leonardo Da Vinci, Raphael, Botticelli would be rolling in their graves.

[@felix-lt4ti]

clearly you don't understand art

[@aspiknf]

@@felix-lt4ti I do understand it.

[@Jack-pp2ng]

Go see a rothko in person and I doubt you will still think this

[@shouldwemakethis]

​@@Jack-pp2ngtoo funny

[@rogerpritchard]

My 5 year old could do better....

[@rabemanantsoa100]

Just watching this video makes me want to try harder in school!

[@ahmadsheikh8773]

Working hard in school will probably make you like these broker but will not make you man behind the phone

[@tarikyasargun4582]

The school won't let to get you there

[@uncutVidsd123]

that jump from 55-70 was quick

[@BaronM]

This painting was purchased by a Russian (Georgian) billionaire, and he is very private.

[@dzamarreza3528]

I think he is drug dealer

[@punkseth1]

+dzamar reza I think so too. What is his name?

[@poparrow9416]

If bought by georgian maybe the buyer was boris ivanishvili,or maybe the buyer is not georgian maybe A Russian oligarch has bought that painting.

[@poparrow9416]

You.

[@Deezhan]

@@punkseth1 Diler Drugich

[@stephenwigmore4725]

I was a Rothko sceptic until I saw his room at Tate modern.It gave me the chills.Try and see some of his work in person-you might change your mind about this kind of work. It is harder and more advanced than it looks.

[@edwardharley9]

Totally .. my experience at MOMA in Manhattan.. the red blob. I cried. I was totally consumed, taken in by the painting... just a major major work....Rothko was a master....

[@motorbike650]

It's all hyp

[@ageofechochambers9469]

They are Satanist paintings

[@sundevilification]

Exciting.

[@TheNaumandolphin]

Worth every cent.

[@victoriaindigo]

Wait, the actual painting isn't there? Just a slideshow of it?

[@DarkAngelEU]

Rothko would've thought the same, something these "collectors" will never understand.

[@alessandrobarbieri2254]

What does the buyer say at 6.29?

[@cent1989]

And we're out?

[@TheNaumandolphin]

Moving to the Hamptons.

[@olindinasilvarothlisberger1382]

Orange,Red,Yellow dreams...

[@johnnauman347]

Worth every penny.

[@itsmesia2469]

😬😬

[@pranav2oo]

If so much give ZHC's painting infinity money

[@Danny-bv6zv]

Two girls only speak for the evening program :P

[@M0D60]

IF YA GOT IT SPEND IT.

[@flickerman68]

Have to disagree about the Gallery and Museum bit. Just been reading a few books on the business end of it and there are now billionaires in Asia and Russia who can not only compete with the large organizations they outbid them.

[@1971SuperLead]

This world is clearly insane.

[@andrewfulache6903]

Im sorry ur understanding about art is small..

[@pranav2oo]

@@andrewfulache6903 whats so good in it

[@elgringoloco9875]

@@andrewfulache6903 yeah please tell me what is good about that. it just looks random imo and requires no skill compared to for example Spitzweg.

[@darcylindzon]

For all the millions of artists out there, congratulations on keeping art alive and keeping the Rothko's of the world inspired, now you can all share in the wealth that has been created by everyone dedication to art!... oh yeah, the money doesn't get shared. This is the cult of celebrity, the painting can only possibly be worth that kind of money because of every artist that has come before Rothko. I hope Mr Rothko gives back to artists.

[@Alexander_Tronstad]

He died several decades ago, long before these pulled this kind of money.

[@theAbyss199]

you realize a lot of these bidders are museums and galleries that make money off of the paintings its rarely private bidders

[@brettfitzgerald7273]

This is ridiculous. I love rothkos paintings but these rich people need a realization. To spend that much money on a painting is mentally insane, you could have given that to someone who needs it rather than spending it on one picture to hang up in your house just for the name on it.

[@Ruceo]

lol....

[@OneWanAndHisDog]

Skateboard Junkie I can guarantee you your 5 year old cannot, as it stands almost 10 feet tall

[@MrSkateboardjunkie]

These are the same @holes that whine about their tax dollars supporting the poor? Seriously, why in the world is this, JPollock or Dekoonig considered art? I bet they're laughing in the grave.

[@bugisami]

Rothko is one of the few artists whose paintings are worth less than the cost of the materials used to execute them.

[@SankofaNYC]

What?

[@george40nelson4]

ONE WONDERS ABOUT THE LONGEVITY OF THE ROTHKO WORKS...AS THEY GENERALLY ARE VERY FINE WASHES WHICH DON'T HOLD UP WELL OVER TIME.

[@punchthedog]

Give me 5 hours and I can come up with an identical painting. In fact, just about anyone could. If you like Rothko's work, that is your opinion. And I can't tell you your opinion is wrong. But I can categorically state, Rothkos, like most abstract expressionist paintings, take little or no skill to create. Why forgeries aren't epidemic in this genre, I'll never know.

[@samoylof]

It's too cheap.

[@MrSkateboardjunkie]

So lame.. Why is this considered art? My 5 yr old could do this.

[@kidcudihums]

his technique was actually very intricate and its not something a 5 year old could do