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Ammon News - A René Magritte painting depicting an eerily lit streetscape sold for more than $121 million at a Christie’s auction in New York on Tuesday –– surpassing its $95 million estimate and smashing the auction record for the Surrealist artist’s work.

As one of the largest paintings in a succession of 27 works all titled “L’empire des lumières” (“The Empire of Light”), the 1954 canvas is well known among 20th century art experts for its scale, pristine condition and subtle details.

The auction house described the artwork as the “crown jewel” of its former owner, the late American interior designer Mica Ertegun’s, collection –– part of which went on sale Tuesday. The auction also featured paintings by other modern giants like Ed Ruscha and Max Ernst.

The artwork depicts a house with a single streetlamp in front. The flame from the lamp lights up the entire canvas, including the dark trees –– almost black in color –– in the foreground, while the image is serenely reflected over a pool of water. Above the streetscape, a light blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds stretches to the top of the canvas.

CNN