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The World's Most Expensive Paintings

Norwegian painter Edvard Munch's "The Scream" made headlines this week when it became the most expensive painting ever auctioned. RFE/RL looks at some of the other masterpieces that have sold for astronomical sums.
Sotheby's employees pose with Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel-on-board version of "The Scream," which went up for auction in London on May 2.
1 Sotheby's employees pose with Norwegian artist Edvard Munch's 1895 pastel-on-board version of "The Scream," which went up for auction in London on May 2.
The painting broke auction records by selling for almost $120 million.
2 The painting broke auction records by selling for almost $120 million.
The most expensive painting ever sold to date is Paul Cezanne's "The Card Players" (1890-92), which was sold by a private owner to Qatar for $250 million last year. 
3 The most expensive painting ever sold to date is Paul Cezanne's "The Card Players" (1890-92), which was sold by a private owner to Qatar for $250 million last year. 
Austrian Gustav Klimt is another artist whose work sells for huge amounts of money. His 1907 painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" sold for $135 million in 2006.
4 Austrian Gustav Klimt is another artist whose work sells for huge amounts of money. His 1907 painting "Adele Bloch-Bauer I" sold for $135 million in 2006.
Another portrait of the same woman "Adele Blocher-Bauer II" was also sold in 2006 for nearly $90 million.
5 Another portrait of the same woman "Adele Blocher-Bauer II" was also sold in 2006 for nearly $90 million.
Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" (1932) held the previous auction record. It was sold at Christie's in New York for more than $106 million in 2010. 
6 Pablo Picasso's "Nude, Green Leaves and Bust" (1932) held the previous auction record. It was sold at Christie's in New York for more than $106 million in 2010. 
Not surprisingly for such a high-profile artist, many of Pablo Picasso's works appear on lists of most expensive paintings. His "Dora Maar au chat" fetched more than $95 million at Sotheby's in 2006.
7 Not surprisingly for such a high-profile artist, many of Pablo Picasso's works appear on lists of most expensive paintings. His "Dora Maar au chat" fetched more than $95 million at Sotheby's in 2006.
Picasso's early work "Garcon a la Pipe" (1905) sold for $104 million in 2004. (The painting itself cost $93 million, but the auctioneer, Sotheby's, was also paid a commission of $11 million.)
8 Picasso's early work "Garcon a la Pipe" (1905) sold for $104 million in 2004. (The painting itself cost $93 million, but the auctioneer, Sotheby's, was also paid a commission of $11 million.)
Andy Warhol's "Eight Elvises" (1963) was reportedly sold to a private buyer for $100 million in 2009.
9 Andy Warhol's "Eight Elvises" (1963) was reportedly sold to a private buyer for $100 million in 2009.
Jackson Pollock's abstract painting "No.5" (1948) is said to be the second-most expensive painting ever sold. It reportedly exchanged hands in 2006 for $140 million. 
10 Jackson Pollock's abstract painting "No.5" (1948) is said to be the second-most expensive painting ever sold. It reportedly exchanged hands in 2006 for $140 million. 
Dutch painter Willem de Kooning's "Woman III" (1963) is thought to be the third-most expensive painting ever sold. It was reportedly bought by American hedge fund manager Steve A. Cohen for more than $137 million in 2006.
11 Dutch painter Willem de Kooning's "Woman III" (1963) is thought to be the third-most expensive painting ever sold. It was reportedly bought by American hedge fund manager Steve A. Cohen for more than $137 million in 2006.
London's National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh raised $72 million earlier this year to acquire Titian's "Diana and Callisto
12 London's National Gallery and the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh raised $72 million earlier this year to acquire Titian's "Diana and Callisto
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