The auction of two Rothkos and a De Kooning injects optimism into New York Art Week

New York offers a very good indicator of where the world’s great fortunes are headed. And the first signs suggest that, despite the uncertainty surrounding the crisis in Iran, the wealthy are eager to spend their money, especially on art. This is the conclusion of the Sotheby’s auction held this Thursday, which marks the start of the biggest week of art in the financial capital of the United States. Mark Rothko’s painting “Brown and Blacks in Reds” sold for $85.8 million (with fees), very close to the Latvian-born American painter’s record of $86.9 million. This abstract painting from 1957 had a pre-sale estimate of between $70 and $100 million.