The Scream (pastel) — $119.9 million (2012)

Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel of The Scream commands $119.9 million at Sotheby's New York, making it the most expensive artwork ever sold at auction at that time. This price surpasses the $82.5 million paid for Vincent van Gogh's Portrait of Dr. Gachet in 1990, underscoring the exceptional demand for Munch's work. The pastel carries a handwritten note from Munch describing the "infinite scream passing through nature" that inspired it, adding profound historical value to its monetary worth.