Update: One picture is worth 1,000 words. And roughly $120 million.

12 minutes.  5 bidders.  $119.9 million.  Edvard Munch's "The Scream" made history last night, becoming the priciest piece of art ever sold at auction.  According to the New York Times, once the bidding passed the $100 million mark, the Sotheby's audience began applauding.  The union and Occupy demonstrators outside were less enthusiastic.  One of them said the sale "exemplifies the ways in which objects of artistic creativity become the exclusive province of the 1 percent," but, given the array of mass produced products that have borne the image, "The Scream" is hardly the best example of this.

Still, the 1 percenters are doing just fine judging from the healthy sales of the rest of the art last night.  A Gauguin purchased in 2002 for $4.6 million sold for $8.4  million; a  Brancusi gold head, estimated to bring $6 to $8 million, sold for $12.6 million.  As for the winning bidder of "The Scream," he or she remains anonymous.  All part of the fine art of being rich.  Here's the link:  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/03/arts/design/the-scream-sells-for-nearly-120-million-at-sothebys-auction.html?hp