On Monday, Andy Warhol’s classic image of Marilyn Monroe, “Shot Sage Blue Marilyn,” sold for $195 million, making it the most expensive work by an American artist ever sold at auction.

Monroe is seen in a colourful close-up on a beautiful blue background in the 1964 silkscreen picture, with her hair yellow, eyeshadow blue, and lips red.

According to Christie’s auction house in New York, where the transaction took place, it’s also the most expensive work from the twentieth century ever auctioned.

The Warhol sale surpassed the previous record holder, Jean-Michel Basquiat, who sold his 1982 artwork “Untitled” of a skull-like visage for a record $110.5 million at Sotheby’s in 2017.

The transaction was made Monday night, according to Christie’s. When the auction was first publicised earlier this year, experts predicted that it may fetch up to $200 million.

According to Alex Rotter, chairman of Christie’s 20th and 21st century art department said, “It’s an amazing price,” added, “Let it sink in; it’s quite something.”

AS per Guillaume Cerutti, CEO of Christie’s said, “This is where we wanted to be, clearly,” added, “It proves we are in a very resilient art market.”

The sale revenues will benefit the Zurich-based Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, which placed the artwork up for auction. The charity strives to provide health care and educational initiatives to children.

More than one picture of Monroe was made by Warhol, and this artwork has been displayed in museums all over the world.

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